OPINION
Kemar Roofe started the season at a canter.
The Leeds United striker had hit 13 of his 14 Championship goals by Boxing Day, and looked for all the world as if he was the man the spearhead the club’s long-awaited return to the top flight.
Unfortunately for him and for United, his form stuttered badly after that as injuries conspired to keep him away from the peak of his powers.
Nonetheless, his season could justifiably be considered a success, and now, with another year in the Championship looming, some serious decisions have to be made about his future.
For one thing, it is understood that he is a wanted man, with Aston Villa reportedly interested in his services, according to Football Insider.
For another, Roofe is in the last year of his current deal at Elland Road, and at the moment, there are no guarantees that a new one will be agreed any time soon.
That means that the club could realistically lose the 26-year-old on a free next summer.
And that’s a possibility that Noel Whelan is very aware of.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “If the player wants to leave, then there is a good chance he will.
“The agent will be whispering in his ear and thinking about the pound signs.
“He will be telling him he can double his salary at a new club this summer, or he can see out his contract and get a bumper deal and signing-on fee next year, with Leeds losing out on a £10million transfer fee. That would be terrible business for Leeds.”
Whelan is bang on the money here. The fact that Roofe is yet to sign a new deal would suggest that he has at least one eye on the exit door in Yorkshire, and if that is the case, it would be much better to sell him now for a hefty fee than to lose him for nothing this time next year.
It wouldn’t be ideal, but that money could be reinvested on another goalscorer this summer.
Roofe must be sold.