‘From what I hear…’ – Reliable journalist shares Gaetano Berardi contract update
Leeds United are “likely” to offer Gaetano Berardi a new contract even though he could miss the majority of next season, according to Phil Hay.
Writing on The Athletic website, Hay said that Berardi’s undergone surgery on the serious knee injury he sustained at Derby last month but could miss up to nine months’ worth of action.
Berardi’s contract with Leeds expired when the season ended but it seems that fresh terms will probably be offered to the 31-year-old defender.
“From what I hear, Bielsa only wants one centre-back (White, ideally) despite Berardi’s injury,” Hay said when discussing Leeds’ approach to signing new defenders this summer.
“Berardi has had surgery on his ACL and will be out for six to nine months. Leeds are likely to hand him a contract anyway, which would be the decent thing to do, but there doesn’t seem to be a plan to sign cover from him specifically.
“This goes back to a point of conversation which crops up all the time. Bielsa likes a small squad.”
Bielsa does like to have a small squad, but let’s say he does manage to re-sign Ben White from Brighton, he could have three centre-backs in his senior squad but one of them is unavailable until around February or later.
We can really see why Leeds are likely to offer Berardi a new contract.
As much as it doesn’t make sense from a business point of view, the one-time Swiss international has been so crucial to Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League that it would be cruel to let him go in his hour of need.
If Berardi’s released, he might not be able to find a club willing to sign him until his ACL fully heals and that means no income for a long period of time and potentially damaging for what are likely to be the final years of his career.
We want to see Berardi succeed and we want to see him play at least once in the Premier League for Leeds United.
Even if it is a one-minute-long appearance in the 38th match of the season.
In other Leeds United news, this Premier League club is ready to sell a Leeds-linked centre-back so they can raise funds for an £18million-valued target.