Liam Cooper may have dropped hint on Leeds United future as he speaks out ahead of clash v Cardiff City
Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper may have already dropped a hint on his Elland Road future following his pre-match comments ahead of their crucial Championship curtain-raiser against Cardiff City on Sunday (6 August).
TalkSPORT reported on 2 August that Cooper’s commitment to Daniel Farke’s new revolution at Elland Road is currently being tested by a “lucrative” offer from Robbie Fowler’s new side Al Qadsiah.
The report writes it is unclear whether the Elland Road favourite is open to the move or how much Leeds United would receive if a move were to happen this summer, but the offer is on the table for the Scotland international.
However, according to Leeds-Live (4 August), Cooper has shown no signs of pushing to leave Leeds this summer after receiving an approach from Saudi Arabia.
Writing on their official website (4 August), the news outlet report that interest from the Middle East is real but Leeds are yet to receive any official approaches about their captain over a move.
While Cooper would earn an “eye-watering” tax-free pay rise from joining Robbie Fowler’s Al-Qasadiyah side, the skipper is yet to show any signs of wanting a move and Leeds want to keep him for their season in the Championship.
And ahead of their game against Cardiff City on Sunday 6 August in the Championship opener, Cooper didn’t give any definitive comments regarding his Elland Road future but certainly provided a hint as to where his future lies.
Speaking to the official Leeds website (4 August), he said:
We’ve really taken on what he [Daniel Farke] has tried to get across to us and I think you’ve seen over the pre-season that our performances have got better.
“You can see the ideas we are implementing, what we are going to do in possession and out of possession. It’s coming together nicely.
“You’ve got to be prepared to stand up, fight and dig in. Games are always tight in this league.
“We can’t wait for it [kick-off against Cardiff]. Pre-season is good to get your minutes in, but there is not that sense of three points on it.
“This is the fun stuff now, this is where players are tested and what players live for. Going out there in front of a packed-out Elland Road on a Sunday afternoon will be brilliant.
“We’ve got players who will be experiencing it for the first time so I hope they enjoy it, it’s the start of a new chapter now.”
While the Elland Road faithful may feel his latest comments don’t certainly point to him committing his future in West Yorkshire, it is clear to see that the Whites veteran is clearly enthused by the work Daniel Farke has done since he was appointed in June.
Nobody would begrudge or blame Cooper for taking a huge pay rise at this stage of his career in a far less physical and difficult division and a potentially game-changing opportunity for his family, but this latest hint certainly provides optimism for the immediate future of Leeds United.
Farke and his men have already lost some crucial members of his first team stars, who could have certainly aided their quest for an immediate Premier League return next season, with Max Wober taking an incredible U-turn last week, completing a move to Borussia Monchengladbach after he stated his commitment to the club for the new season.
The Austrian defender became the ninth key departure at Elland Road, following the loan exits of Rasmus Kristensen, Brenden Aaronson, Robin Koch and Marc Roca and the club certainly could not have afforded Cooper to depart too.
As captain of the club he has shown his commitment to the club from the moment the club were relegated, and he has been a key part of Daniel Farke’s plans during pre-season at centre-back.
These latest hints ahead of Sunday’s clash certainly point to him remaining focused on the huge task at hand concerning the whole club and their quest to secure an immediate Premier League return.
The squad is already very light on options in that position with just Charlie Cresswell and Pascal Struijk as other options for the role and it is absolutely imperative Cooper remains a Leeds United player when the transfer window slams shut in under a month’s time.
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