£4million Saudi contract offer was on table for Liam Cooper to quit Leeds United
Leeds United defender Liam Cooper had a £4million contract offer on the table from Saudi Arabia over the summer, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist shared that a £40,000-a-week contract for two years, tax-free was ready to go from Al-Qadisah, currently managed by Robbie Fowler.
The interest and contract offer never made it to the stage of a formal bid to Leeds themselves, and the skipper remained at Elland Road, rather than forcing a way out.
Despite that money being on offer, there was said to be no question of Cooper sticking around and he managed to keep his captaincy under Daniel Farke.
That hasn’t seen him nail his spot down though, with Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon currently favoured, although a promotion push isn’t the place for novelty.
Wow.
One thing that no one has ever questioned of Cooper is his loyalty and love for the club, not many can say they have played for Leeds for nearly 10 years.
At this stage of his career, to turn down a guaranteed £4million is a big decision, but another push at promotion to the Premier League is more likely what he wants.
With a testimonial also likely secured soon, the Scotland international wants to be remembered for those right reasons, rather than one of those who ran after the money – think of Jordan Henderson.
Even if he isn’t playing every week right now, Farke will know that Cooper is a huge part of his squad both at Elland Road and every day at Thorp Arch.
Leeds are starting to look up after a turbulent summer, to say the least, and Cooper will be part of making sure that those standards never drop again.
In other Leeds United news, one journalist has shared what sources close to Kalvin Phillips say about a potential Elland Road return