Leeds United could offer Sam Byram one-year deal ahead of Championship clash v Cardiff City
Leeds United are considering offering Sam Byram a one-year deal after he impressed in pre-season, but are not rushing a deal due to the Cardiff fixture according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Writing on their official website (3 August), the news outlet report that the club are not in a rush to make a decision on the left-back despite a looming deadline to register him by Friday so he can play against Cardiff in the opening Championship game of the season.
But the club will continue to monitor his fitness and performances in training, and that will be a key factor in whether he is offered a deal or not.
“The YEP understands Byram has impressed at Thorp Arch, displaying positive signs on and off the pitch, and so far has not experienced any injury problems from training with the squad, or in the aftermath of Leeds’ pre-season matches,” they wrote.
“With Leeds’ first competitive game of the season fast approaching, Byram would need to be registered by this Friday, August 4 in order to be eligible to face Cardiff on Sunday.
“Leeds are in no rush to make a decision on Byram, though, as his free agent status means the club can feasibly wait until the end of the transfer window which would allow medical and coaching staff to assess the defender over an extended period.
“Byram’s fitness is set to be a key factor in whether he will be offered a contract or not. If he is able to demonstrate a durability that convinces head of medicine and performance Rob Price and manager Daniel Farke that he could cope with the rigours of Championship football, it is possible Leeds will offer terms.”
Do it
At this point Byram is quite comfortably the best left-back option we have at the club and a one-year deal would do far more good than it would harm.
Leo Hjelde isn’t quite ready to be a regular option in defence, while Stuart Dallas is seemingly no closer to a return and Junior Firpo is better off staying as far away from the first-team as possible.
There have been conflicting reports about the interest in Manchester United defender Brandon Williams too, so even if a deal does materialise it won’t be in time for the clash with Cardiff.
Byram has performed well in pre-season, knows the manager and club well from his past and his exit seven years ago seems to have been swept under the rug for the most part.
It would be sensible business and stand us in good stead for the opening game of the season, so it’s best to get this done as soon as possible.
In other Leeds news, club stance has been shared about a mooted double deal worth millions.