Lewis Bate set for permanent Leeds United exit within weeks at Elland Road
Leeds United midfielder Lewis Bate looks to be on the verge of leaving Elland Road permanently this summer, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Bate is currently on loan at League Two side MK Dons, but it is reported that after three years with Leeds, the 21-year-old midfielder will leave for free upon the expiry of his contract.
Daniel Farke included Bate in his first-team squad at the start of this season, but after making just one substitute appearance in the EFL Cup, he was loaned to MK Dons for the remainder of the campaign in January.
Could Lewis Bate stay at Leeds United?
Leeds United are highly unlikely to still have Bate on their books at the start of next season, with the 21-year-old’s contract set to expire on 30 June 2024.
Signed on a three-year deal in the 2021 summer transfer window, Bate was given his first-team debut by Marcelo Bielsa in January 2022.
He featured three times in the Premier League that season, including starting against former side Chelsea, but hasn’t been seen in a league game since.
Bate was loaned out to Oxford United for the entire 2022-23 season, impressing in 28 League One appearances, but not enough to earn a permanent move or break back into the Leeds first-team.
The midfielder has also put in some good displays for MK Dons since arriving in January, but after helping the Dons qualify for the play-offs, they appear set for another season in League Two after losing 3-0 to Crawley in their semi-final first-leg.
Bate appears to have found his level in England’s lower leagues, and as his Elland Road contract runs out, Leeds will be in no mood to stand in the way as he looks for a permanent home in League One or Two.
In other Leeds news, the 49ers were “really big” on one former Premier League manager before hiring Daniel Farke.
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