OPINION
Mateusz Klich’s future at Leeds United is up in the air – and supporters are likely to be seriously unhappy about that.
The Polish midfielder has remarkably started all 33 of the club’s Championship matches this season after turning around his career at the Yorkshire giants.
Klich has emerged as a favourite of the Whites faithful for his goal scoring and creating, as well as the boundless energy that makes him critical to the all-action playing style implemented by Marcelo Bielsa.
Given the seven league goals – supplemented by seven assists – scored by the 15-times international from midfield, you might imagine Leeds would be doing everything they can to tie him down to a new contract.
Wrong, according to an explosive report in Tuesday’s edition of the Daily Mail.
It is said Leeds have put contract talks with Klich and other senior players on hold until the summer while they wait to see if they are successful in securing promotion back to the Premier League.
The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer of 2020 and the Mail reveal that suggestions “Leeds have an option to extend Klich’s deal” are untrue.
Andrea Radrizzani has denied the Mail claim that he could sell Leeds if they miss out on promotion, but that does not answer why the club have stalled contract talks with Klich.
The Italian businessman is playing Russian roulette with the future of a key player who has been transformed into a real star this season.
Leeds have so far failed to protect the value of a major asset, and what is to stop Klich agreeing terms with a rival club who value him more highly?
This is a massive risk and an unnecessary one.