49ers open door for Leeds United return for Luke Ayling at Elland Road as announcement made
49ers Enterprises chief Paraag Marathe has opened the door for Luke Ayling to return to Leeds United in the future after it was announced he’ll be joining Middlesbrough on loan.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (10 January) that Ayling, 32, will spent the rest of the season on loan at The Riverside but due to the fact his Leeds contract expires at the end of the campaign, it looks as though his eight-year spell at Elland Road will be coming to an end.
Leeds chairman Marathe basically confirmed that too by penning a goodbye message to the right-back.
However, the American businessman signed off the note by saying that he would have Ayling back at Elland Road in the future if the opportunity arose.
“I’d like to thank Luke for everything he has done for Leeds United,” said Marathe, as quoted on the Leeds official website (10 January).
“He is an impeccable professional and constantly gave his all for the badge, he wore with pride.
“His commitment to the club is rivalled only by his commitment to the Leeds community and our supporters, whose love he has earned during his time here.
“Luke is always welcome back at Elland Road and I wish him the best of luck on his next step.”
Always welcome back
We’ve been saying for some time that Ayling isn’t as good a player as he once was.
Marcelo Bielsa really got the best out of him in the Championship and also oversaw a brilliant campaign by the ex-Arsenal right-back in the Premier League.
But after that first top-flight season, it started to slip away a bit for Ayling, who was one of many players who struggled to get to grips with playing for managers like Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.
Eventually – and understandably – Daniel Farke stopped seeing Ayling as someone who should be a regular starter with the right-back failing to make one of the German’s starting line-ups since a 1-0 win over QPR on 4 October.
Since then, he’s been no more than a substitute and has often been benched or left out of the matchday squad completely.
It’s not quite the right way to say it but Ayling has overstayed his welcome; he should have gone a while back.
But we wish him well at Boro and as Marathe says, he’s always welcome back at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, this exit-bound Leeds player is hurt by what fans have said about him as terms are agreed.