The six-week World Cup break could hand the people upstairs at Leeds United the time to address the current contract situation. The Whites have been known to announce new deals for players in batches, none more so that in the summer when Joe Gelhardt, Crysencio Summerville and Sam Greenwood all pen-to-paper on long term contracts on the same day.
Many of Leeds' biggest decisions will not arrive until 2024, with Pascal Struijk, Jack Harrison, Robin Koch and Liam Cooper among several whose deals are set to expire that summer. On the contrary, in 2023 there are just three first team players who will be out of contract.
Two of those are from the 2020 promotion winning team, but have seen their roles reduced this season, while the other is a recent summer signing. So, with that in mind, here is a look at the trio Leeds face a decision over, and which way it could go.
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Luke Ayling
Arguably the biggest name on this list is Luke Ayling, who has racked up well over 200 appearances during his time at Leeds. Ayling has been forced to play second fiddle this term following his comeback from injury, with summer signing Rasmus Kristensen now settled in as first choice.
Much of Leeds' decision as to whether Ayling stays at Elland Road beyond June could depend on the future of Cody Drameh. After a superb loan spell at Cardiff City in the second half of last season, Drameh decided to stay at Leeds in the summer in the hope of regular game time, but that has just not been the case.
Drameh is back in the U21s and is reportedly the subject of January interest from Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund. If he leaves permanently, then Leeds may decide to keep Ayling, but the sanctioning of another loan move could indicate that the Whites still see him in their long-term plans.
They could also potentially dip into the market again for another right back, though it is unlikely that would be for big money given Kristensen's arrival in the summer. West Ham's Harrison Ashby is a name that has been linked.
Adam Forshaw
It always looked as though in pre-season that Adam Forshaw would be reduced to a more bit-part role this year following the signings of Tyler Adams and Marc Roca. But frustratingly for both Leeds and the 31-year-old, to say he has even been a bit-part player would be being kind.
Due to a number of injury issues, he has played just 47 minutes in the Premier League so far and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Greenwood now ahead of him in the pecking order even when he is fit. There have already been reports that Leeds would be willing to let him go as early as January, with Championship clubs said to be interested.
Leeds do have an option to trigger an extension in his current deal, but at this stage it feels unlikely. The people in charge will probably view 2023 as the right time to part ways, particularly with the impressive form of Adams and Roca, as well as emerging talent such as Darko Gyabi.
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Joel Robles
Experienced goalkeeper Joel Robles only arrived in the summer but was brought in to play a very specific role. And that is to aid the development of both Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson.
Similarly to Ayling, Robles' future at Leeds could also rely on other players in the squad. In this case, it could be down to whether Leeds feel Klaesson is ready to be a second choice Premier League goalkeeper.
Of course, last season he did that, but that was down to mismanagement from above, rather than by choice. Jesse Marsch has already publicly praised Robles for the role he is playing at Thorp Arch, and on that basis alone, he could be worth keeping around for another year.
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