Isaac Schmidt ‘jumping for joy’ as contract development emerges at Leeds United
Isaac Schmidt has failed to make the desired impact in Daniel Farke’s squad since joining Leeds United last summer.
The left-back has made just nine appearances since his £4.6million move from Swiss side St Gallen in August, unable to prove himself to the manager after six months.
Having watched endless videos and listened to Swiss journalists, supporters were really excited about Schmidt’s move to Elland Road, but it has been far from ideal.
That could certainly be put down to the players ahead of him in the pecking order – Junior Firpo and Sam Bryam, both of whom have been trusted to back-up the other at different points this term.
However, after the latest update on contracts, the 25-year-old might already be jumping for joy, given he put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Championship leaders.
Isaac Schmidt to benefit from Leeds United contract news
According to Adam Pope, the Whites have not yet opened talks with Firpo, Byram or Josuha Guilavogui over contract extensions, who are all out of a deal once the 2024/25 campaign comes to an end.
Supporters will, of course, be up in arms if all three figures are allowed to leave the club ahead of next season, but Schmidt will surely be grinning ear to ear about the news.
Before his move to England, he was an incredible attacking figure for St Gallen, but with Farke putting more trust in the other two left-backs, he’s not been given a chance at all.
That could be about to change if Leeds do not offer new contracts soon.
Daniel Farke to prepare for Premier League football
With Leeds currently topping the Championship table, the Whites are in a brilliant position to win promotion back to the Premier League, and Farke may already be planning for that eventuality.
Some fans have already voiced their concerns at the quality of some of the current players, those who star in the Championship but struggle in the tier above, and that could factor into the contract decisions.
If Byram and Firpo were to go this summer, Farke may have no other choice but to bring Schmidt into the starting XI, maybe even before the 2024/25 campaign ends, to give him the necessary experience.