Leeds United ‘priority’ in contract talks with Adam Forshaw as ‘big-money’ Saudi offer lands to threaten success
Leeds United contract talks with Adam Forshaw are at risk after a “big-money” offer from Saudi Arabia was put forward, according to Simon Jones in the Daily Mail.
The veteran midfielder’s Whites deal expired at the end of the season, but he was offered to come back to preseason training with the club and has been in negotiations over a new set of terms.
Forshaw, 31, has reportedly received approaches from a number of Championship rivals but his “priority” has been to return to Elland Road where he has been for the past five and a half seasons.
But, according to The Mail, Saudi Pro League side Al Akhdoud have tabled an offer and the Englishman is now “considering his options”.
Forshaw is reportedly “determined to make up for lost time by playing as often as possible” after missing extensive time with injury last season.
Complication
If Forshaw heads to the Middle East to take the tax-free cash it would derail the Whites’ plans for him, but given his extensive fitness issues it would be difficult to bank on him being available even if he does resign for Leeds United.
Sam Allardyce made him a key man for the four-game span of his Elland Road management career at the tail end of last season, and recommended he be brought back for the Championship.
But that made up a third of Forshaw’s entire Premier League appearances during the campaign, and the former Brentford man has only made 91 total appearances in his entire five and a half year stay with the club.
Talks over a new deal were likely dragging on because Leeds feel they can’t risk paying him what he presumably wants due to him being out so often.
When fit he is good enough to be starter, but that is so rare it would have forced Daniel Farke to bring in adequate cover either way, which he has started doing already with the imminent £7million arrival of Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea.
The Whites had also tried to bring Joel Robles back when his own contract expired but the goalkeeper, another man who was elevated by Allardyce, confirmed his departure on Monday (17 July) and then went to Saudi Arabia himself, signing for Al-Qadsiah a day later.
So now it appears that both of the club’s attempts to retain free agents on team-friendly new deals might be scuppered by the ongoing Saudi investment drive.
In other Leeds United news, the club’s best defender is one of a host of first-team aces who are now “actively” looking to leave with a potential “exodus” on the cards at Elland Road.