Graham Smyth: Leeds United expected to announce retained list on Thursday
Leeds United are set to make a major club announcement over next season’s squad on Thursday, according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth.
The Whites closed the curtain on a brilliant 2020/21 Premier League campaign with a 3-1 win over West Brom on Sunday, in front of thousands of adoring supporters at Elland Road.
Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi both bid their farewells with final outings as Leeds players before they depart upon the expiry of the contracts in June.
Leeds fans should find out on Thursday who, if anyone, will follow the duo out of the Elland Road exit door.
YEP journalist Smyth tweeted on Thursday morning that he was “expecting Leeds United’s retained list today.”
Who’s next?
Ezgjan Alioski will be the name on everyone’s lips.
The North Macedonia international has been heavily linked with a move away from West Yorkshire this summer, with Turkish giants Galatasaray reportedly leading the hunt for his signature.
The 29-year-old’s contract also runs out in June and it will be more of a surprise if he sticks around now, though Marcelo Bielsa’s continued faith in him, shown by 36 Premier League appearances in the 2020/21 season, highlights how much he is valued at Leeds and they would like to keep him around.
According to Transfermarkt, the only other senior player with an expiring deal is Ouasim Buoy, the Dutch midfielder who has been completely frozen out by the Whites, failing to make a single appearance his move 2017 move from Juventus.
He will certainly depart the club after four years in the wilderness, while there could also be a raft of young talents who have failed to make the grade that also fail to make the retained list.
In other Leeds United news, this Whites U23 talent has been set a major international challenge after a standout 2020/21 season.