Phil Hay shares how Luke Ayling asked to leave Leeds United as he grew tired at Thorp Arch
Luke Ayling grew tired of being asked to stay at Leeds United “without kicking a ball meaningfully,” according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist explained that the right-back then asked to leave Elland Road for a loan move to Middlesbrough.
The defender completed a temporary move to the Riverside in mid-January, with his Leeds contract expiring at the end of the season.
“Ayling grew tired of being asked to stick around without kicking a ball meaningfully and asked to leave on loan for fellow Championship side Middlesbrough a week later,” Hay wrote for The Athletic.
Fair enough
It was a fair request from Ayling, who had been witnessing Daniel Farke start the likes of young midfielder Archie Gray ahead of him at right-back.
It doesn’t seem to have ended in any toxic way for the veteran defender at Elland Road, but perhaps he wasn’t best pleased with how the situation was unfolding at his beloved club.
But he doesn’t seem to have wasted much time in getting his point across, with the powers that be at the club respecting his wishes, with a move to Middlesbrough taking place pretty quickly.
He left West Yorkshire with the best wishes from absolutely everyone involved with Leeds, which is very understandable given his superb career at the club.
Now he will be keen to make new memories at the Riverside, beginning with helping Middlesbrough rise the league table.
Michael Carrick will be delighted to have a player of Ayling’s calibre at the club, with the experienced right-back set to help Boro both on and off the pitch.
In other Leeds United news, there is hope for the reset of one Whites player as talks continue at Elland Road.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.