Ethan Ampadu contract talks need to be accelerated at Leeds United
Ethan Ampadu's contract should be one of Leeds United's biggest priorities going forward.
The Welshman has been one of the Elland Road side's best players this season, and they can't afford to lose him anytime soon.
Daniel Farke has selected him to start 34 times in all competitions, and he has made a further one appearance from the bench.
The Yorkshire outfit are risking losing him on a free next summer at the moment, and that needs to be addressed shortly.
Leeds need to speed up contract talks with Ampadu, as he is too important to not be a part of the Whites squad.
Why Leeds need to hurry up with Ampadu talks
Ampadu is understood to be in talks with Leeds, but no announcement has been made on a new contract at the moment.
He is currently signed up until the summer of 2027, which is the contract that he agreed to when he signed for the club in 2023.
However, he deserves an extension and more money than the reported £40,000-per-week that he earns right now.
Why Leeds must keep Ampadu around
Gary Lineker was stunned by what he has seen from the Peacocks ace, and spoke out after the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in February.
The former Match of the Day presenter revealed how he feels about Ampadu on the Rest is Football Podcast after that game.
He said: “I saw one or two people saying they weren’t sure about him, but I’ve been really impressed with him this season.”
| Ampadu's stats this season | Premier League |
| Appearances | 31 |
| Goals/Assists | 1/1 |
| Pass accuracy | 85% |
| Tackles per game | 2.4 |
| Balls recovered | 5.2 |
| Clearances per game | 2.4 |
| Ground duels won | 64% |
| Aerial duels won | 65% |
Farke would surely agree, and he will likely want to have the 61-cap international beyond the expiry of his current deal.
The reasons are two-fold, for starters, letting him leave for nothing would be absolutely criminal, but also he is so crucial for the LS11 side.
They must quicken up the negotiations and give him what he wants, as teams may decide to test the waters and try to tempt him with lucrative moves, if his Whites' future is not secured.
He is a fan favourite and one of the most experienced and hardworking players in the squad, the 49ers can't let any interest in him develop any further as a result of not tying him down early enough.
They need to show their captain that they are committed to him, and see him as a key man in the future.