Leeds United sent out a clear statement of intent as they dropped the news supporters had been waiting for on Tuesday morning. Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville are three of the brightest young talents at Elland Road and by tying them down to a long-term deals, Leeds have ensured they have the platform to realise their potential in a white shirt.
It was a move that showcased Leeds’ ambition and in the years to come, United could well start to build a team around the trio as they continue their progression from youngsters on the fringes of the squad to first-team stars. Jesse Marsch has already shown his willingness to hand out chances to those who are deserving and since his arrival Gelhardt, Greenwood and Summerville have more than caught the head coach’s eye.
Both Summerville and Greenwood were previously in possession of contracts that were due to expire at the end of the 2022-23 season and by tying them down Leeds appear to have further committed themselves to a long-term plan. Those deals mean that within Marsh’s squad there are only three players not signed on beyond the end of the new campaign.
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That certainly gives Leeds’ squad a settled feel as they prepare for their third successive Premier League season and that can only help as Marsch aims to take Leeds up the table. Luke Ayling is the most senior name on the list, with the 30-year-old coming to the end of the four-year deal he penned under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019.
The defender may face a fight for a spot in the team following the addition of Denmark international Rasmus Kristensen, who has shone brightly over pre-season, but he’ll be confident of proving his worth when he returns to full fitness in a few weeks’ time. As vice-captain, Ayling has an important role to play within Marsch’s set-up this term and there have been suggestions elsewhere that Leeds are ready to prolong his stay in West Yorkshire.
Adam Forshaw is another who is playing for his future this season, while youngster Mateusz Bogusz is the third and final man in the last year of his deal. Bogusz has spent the last two seasons in the Spanish Segunda Division and has been linked away this summer, with Ibiza said to be keen on taking the Poland youth international back in the coming months.
The futures of the above trio will become clear in the not too distant future, but for the time being it seems the club are sending Marsch out into his first full season at Elland Road with a squad that can definitely be described as stable. Of course, everyone knows change can come very quickly in the world of football, and Leeds are still looking to add one or two names to their roster this summer.
However, the Whites are clearly thinking long-term at present and with the future of this squad being mapped out for several years to come, Marsch will be confident in his side’s ability to build on their efforts last time around.
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