Scotland defender Liam Cooper finds himself at a crossroads as his contract situation remains unresolved.
Although he was not officially listed among the players released by Leeds United at the end of last season, discussions regarding his future have not progressed as expected.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that, while Leeds had indicated a willingness to keep Cooper and his teammate Jamie Shackleton, no formal contract has actually been put forward to the 32-year-old centre-back.
Shackleton has since made a move to Sheffield United, leaving Cooper as the lone figure still contemplating his next steps as the English Football League season approaches next weekend.
Despite initial assumptions that new terms would be offered, it appears that Leeds has only verbally communicated their intentions, with any proposed wages falling well short of what Cooper might anticipate.
Full story:
-
Gattuso’s hilarious explicit ‘**** off’ advice for media management
-
Ex-Rangers defender Connor Goldson wastes no time settling into Aris Limassol
Comments from Farke following Leeds' 2-1 pre-season win over Valencia on Saturday appeared to suggest Cooper's time is up at the Championship club - yet there's still no official confirmation that his near-decade long stay at Elland Road has come to an end.
"The leadership group is more or less three or four guys in their 30s, but we have a pretty young side and Ethan (Ampadu) had the best mentor with Liam Cooper," Farke explained during a recent press conference.
"Because Ethan is the new club captain, he has big footsteps to fill after Liam, who has been unbelievable for this club, what he did in a decade was outstanding.
"He led this club into the Premier League and has made sure that they had also one really good year there. He was a fantastic person and player for this club. When you’re so young in age and just one year at the club, you have to try fulfil these big footsteps, it’s never easy, but it was our choice with Ethan, Pascal and Illan, it’s a young leadership group but it’s what we’re all about."
This situation highlights Cooper's diminished role under Farke, who seems to regard him as a backup option behind new signing Joe Rodon, along with returning players Maximilian Wober and Pascal Struijk.
Given this context, Cooper will now seek a fresh start elsewhere, especially after a challenging 2023/24 season marred by injuries.
The uncertainty surrounding Cooper's future could pique the interest of Scottish Premiership giants Celtic and Rangers.
Both clubs are always on the lookout for experienced defenders, and Cooper's potential availability might present an attractive opportunity for them.
As the transfer window progresses, it will be intriguing to see if either makes a move for the seasoned international, or will he pursue the possibility of playing in the Middle East, something he rejected last year.
