Adam Forshaw shares Leeds United contract admission prior to Elland Road exit
Former Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw said a deal was set for him to stay at the club before moving on last year.
Speaking to Nancy Froston of The Athletic [8 August], Forshaw – now at Championship competitors Plymouth Argyle – admitted “other reasons” caused him to leave Elland Road – when a new deal was negotiated for him to stay [Phil Hay, 16 June 2023].
The 32-year-old made 91 appearances across five-and-a-half years with the Whites, playing his best football under Marcelo Bielsa but struggling with injuries to his hip, calf, toe and others which stunted his progress.
His contract expired in the summer of 2023 but an extension was arranged – only for the contract not to go through.
“Last summer, I was all but done and going back to Leeds,” he explained.
“I had an option in my contract that I didn’t trigger but I’d negotiated a deal to stay.
“At the time, I was really hoping to stay there but unfortunately for other reasons, it just didn’t happen.”
Leeds United reshaping squad
Forshaw’s rearranged terms to stay at Leeds United – which of course were not to come to fruition in the end – are commonplace when clubs want to keep hold of players but are wary of their injury records.
The Argyle man is a consummate professional, and honest with himself at this stage of his career – he initially joined Norwich City four games into last season, but left citing personal concerns and made the move down to Devon, where he has played regularly which balances out with being absent from his family for long periods.
Leeds are in a similar situation with other players in their squad in that the club and Daniel Farke may be unsure on what is the better individual approach.
Farke’s starting XI against Portsmouth on Saturday – or more whom is not included – may provide the best hint so far as to who he wishes to keep around.
Max Wober and Brenden Aaronson, both of whom spent last season out on loan, have so far been retained in the Leeds squad and could play a key part this year.
In other Leeds news, a development on the race with Sheffield United for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
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