Leeds United striker Kemar Roofe is demanding parity with fellow forward Patrick Bamford in his contract standoff with the club, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The newspaper claim on their website that the forward, who has a year left to run on his current terms at Elland Road, is set to be offered a new deal by the Whites but that he is to demand a significant rise in his pay, bringing him to the level that Bamford is on.
The former Middlesbrough striker joined the club last summer and shared responsibilities up front, with Marcelo Bielsa rarely able to call on both at the same time due to injuries and suspension.
Opinion
It is hard to argue against Roofe here. After all, he did finish the campaign as the club’s leading goal scorer ahead of Bamford, who was meant to be the big name hitman who fired Leeds United to glory. Yes, injuries have played a massive part in both their campaigns and you have to wonder whether Leeds could have sealed a top two finish had they both been fit for longer, but those are the dice that were rolled their way. The question should not be whether Roofe is worthy of the same wage Bamford is on, but if Bamford has done enough to justify his earnings? At the moment, you might have to argue not and as such the club might say to Roofe that he is not worth the money either. That is a risky game to play and so by handing their 2018 signing a big deal, they have backed themselves into a corner over Roofe. Whether they can come to an agreement remains to be seen.