Leeds United have two players nearing the end of their contracts who will be free to sign pre-contract agreements when the January transfer window opens in a couple of months. It seems the club is eager to prevent a similar situation with another player.
Junior Firpo and Sam Byram are entering the final year of their contracts, but discussions about extensions will happen when the time is right. As things stand, unless there are any hidden clauses for extensions, both full-backs are set to see their contracts expire next June.
Byram was in a similar position last year but triggered a one-year extension based on the number of appearances he made. Meanwhile, letting Firpo go for nothing after spending between £10 million and £15 million to bring him in from Barcelona would be a significant financial blow.
As a result, these next few months will be intriguing to follow, but there’s a player ahead of them regarding contract extensions.
Leeds want to work on Daniel James’ extension
Another player nearing this exact situation is Daniel James, whose contract expires in June 2026. If there’s no extension during the season, then he’ll have one year left on his current deal once the summer approaches.
Nonetheless, Leeds want to avoid this situation. Football Insider reports, citing sources, that the Whites are “keen” to open new contract talks with the 26-year-old. The club wants to extend his current deal to ensure he’s at Elland Road for the long term.
Leeds could be at risk of losing James next year if they don’t secure a new contract, and the club are eager to avoid that situation. The winger has featured in 89 matches across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and recording 12 assists.
James, who joined the team in 2021, has featured three times for the Whites this season. However, he’s been sidelined for the past three league games due to a hamstring injury.
It will be interesting to see whether the player wants to agree to a long-term contract or whether the club earns promotion to the Premier League. Should Leeds stay in the Championship for a third straight season, would that affect his decision?
