Leeds United era starts to come to close as approach made for Mateusz Klich exit
It feels as if an end of an era is approaching at Leeds United with a number of the club’s modern-day favourites all looking likely to depart Elland Road.
With the 49ers’ purchase looking imminent and Jesse Marsch now at the helm, it now seems as if there will be another relatively large turnover of players in the upcoming windows. The American will be eager to continue adding players which suit his aggressive, high-octane and energetic football.
It’s clear Marsch wants to utilise younger players with bundles of energy like Tyler Adams and Crysencio Summerville, and that leaves the likes of Mateusz Klich, Luke Ayling and Adam Forshaw staring at the exit door in West Yorkshire.
An exit does now seem likely for Klich with Polish new outlet Sportowefakty (8 December) suggesting MLS side DC United have made an approach for the 32-year-old, with a January exit now very much on the cards. This could just be the start of a wider exodus of some of the Whites’ fan favourites.
Ayling is another Elland Road veteran who looks destined for pastures new after his contract demands have seemingly fallen on deaf ears. The Mirror reported [7 April 2022, page 53] the 31-year-old had asked the board to offer him a new contract with the right back wanting to spend the rest of his career at Elland Road.
TEAMtalk has since suggested (16 November) Ayling could now depart the club in January with there being plenty of interest in the former Bristol City man. Adam Forshaw is another player who looks likely to depart, with his contract up at the end of the season.
Leeds do hold an option for an extra year, but there’s been little indication as the whether it will be taken up. Former Eurosport and Bleacher Report journalist Dean Jones has suggested (GIVEMESPORT, 8 November) that the 31-year-old could be available in January.
It’s a sad prospect for Whites’ fans with all three players being instrumental in the success at Elland Road in recent years, however, if the club want to push on and become a consistent top-half side, they must move with the times.
In other Leeds United news, Victor Orta will be thrilled as a £40million-plus target has made history in the World Cup.