Before Leeds United make any new signings, the club have a number of decisions to make regarding the current playing staff and Aidy White is delighted with something the club are doing.
New sporting director Adam Underwood and head of recruitment Alex Davies have been thrown in at the deep end. Their first window as a team, they have the small task of building a squad capable of survival.
It is widely expected that more than £100m will be spent on new players, with Paraag Marathe promising fans every penny will be spent without Leeds breaking the Profit & Sustainability Rules, this summer.
But before all that, the club have a number of contract decisions to make. Josuha Guilavogui will leave but two remain in talks with the club over extending their deals, before they expire come the end of June.
Aidy White delighted Leeds United are in talks with Sam Byram
Ask every Leeds fan about Sam Byram and they will tell you he is not good enough to be first choice in the Premier League. Keeping Byram maybe controversial then, but he can offer cover on both sides.
Defensively sound and proving largely injury free over the last 12 months, Byram is now out of contract at Leeds. Byram has made it clear he would like to stay and the retained list confirmed talks are ongoing.
Discussing Byram’s future with The Square Ball, former Leeds defender Aidy White said it is a “no-brainer” the club tie Byram down to a new contract – and is delighted that The Whites look like they will do so.
“Sam has been a great servant. If we go out and find a replacement, how much is that going to cost? Are they as capable as Sam? I can’t imagine someone coming in and taking Bogle’s place from the off.
“So having Byram – similar to what Guilavogui has done and take a step back from playing – for me, I’d give him a contract and say look Sam, this is the situation – you aren’t going to play much,” he added.
“He might want to go and play football but when you have that affinity with the club, you take that role on. He fits the bill, it is a no-brainer,” White continued, discussing Byram’s future as a Leeds player.
Why it is absolutely pivotal Leeds now keep Sam Byram
Promotion to the Premier League means there are rules when it comes to registering players. This Leeds squad is full of internationals from all over – Japan, Bulgaria, Austria, France and The Dominican Republic.
The likelihood is that Leeds will sign a few non-English players this summer, too. But Premier League registration rules make it clear that squads must have players trained in England between 16 and 21.
Byram’s Premier League stats:
Not only is Byram trained in England between those ages, but by Leeds. Keeping Byram means the club can bring in a top talent to start from a different country, not hamstrung into signing someone English.
