Phil Hay has claimed that Leeds United and Luke Ayling are not in talks over a new contract.
In what was a disappointing season last time out for Leeds and Ayling as they stayed up by the skin of their teeth, the defender’s misery was further compounded when he picked up a rather serious injury which forced him to undergo surgery during the off-season.
Therefore, Ayling is yet to play any minutes under Jesse Marsch this season, although the manager has recently claimed that he shouldn’t be too far away from training with the first team once again.
Despite his long service to the club, Hay has now confirmed on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show that no talks are ongoing between Ayling and Leeds over a new deal.
(36:19) “They’ve got Ayling coming back him and Firpo due for full training next week so can’t be too far away, but you have to remember with Ayling that he’s in the last year of his contract now and there’s been no move yet to extend that.
Should Leeds offer Ayling a new contract?
Yes!
No!
“You have to wonder if this is kind of the tail end for Ayling and if it is coming to a conclusion for him, and if he will be elsewhere by the start of next season.”
TIF Thoughts on Ayling’s future…
Ayling has been a very good servant for Leeds over the years costing them just £783,000 having arrived from Bristol City back in 2016 and has managed to rack up 220 appearances across all competitions as well as being prominent in their Championship-winning season.
However, he is now 32 and following the arrival of Rasmus Kristensen this summer and Cody Drameh, who impressed on loan at Cardiff City last season, Ayling may well have a tough battle on his hands for regular minutes.
It will be no shame on Ayling if this is his last season as a Leeds player as he’s made a huge impact at Elland Road and managed to forge a great career in English football, but it’s also unlikely that he will go away without a fight for the right-back spot.