By support

17th May, 2017 | 11:10am

Done: Massive Leeds exodus as seven senior players among 11 released

By Matt Farr

Leeds have confirmed that seven senior players are set to be released by the club at the end of the season.

The club published their retained list on their official website on Wednesday morning, where it was confirmed that 11 players were set to depart the club, including seven senior players.

Jordan Botaka and Ross Turnbull are both set to quit upon the expiry of their current deals, while five other senior players are also facing imminent departures.

Leeds confirmed that current loan stars Modou Barrow, Kyle Bartley, Matt Grimes, Alfonso Pedraza and Hadi Sacko will all be returning to their parent clubs, as Garry Monk ponders his options ahead of next season.

Youth quartet Alex Purver, Michael Taylor, Jack Vann and Billy Whitehouse complete the list of outgoing players on Leeds’ official retained list for 2017-18.

Botaka, 23, appeared surplus to requirements at Elland Road this season after he was shipped out on loan to League One outfit Charlton, and it has been revealed that he will not be returning to Leeds ahead of next season.

The DR Congo international is out of contract next month and is set to depart having made just 14 appearances for the club since his arrival in the summer of 2015.

Meanwhile, Turnbull departs after making just one appearance in his two seasons at the Yorkshire outfit.

Monk, who is also on the hunt for a new deal, has chosen to trim down his squad following their failed promotion bid, but he is likely to begin rebuilding again in the summer once the mass exodus is complete.

Football Insider verdict

The decision to axe Botaka from the squad comes as little surprise given his lack of game-time since his arrival at the club two years’ ago. Monk recognised that he would not be a regular part of his plans last summer, and chose to let him seek out an opportunity with Charlton. But Monk’s stance on the player has not changed, with the winger entering the final month of his contract at Elland Road. The club’s decision to axe Ross Turnbull from the first-team squad, meanwhile, is also a wise choice, as the goalkeeper has seen little action due to the form of No.1 Rob Green.

In other Leeds United transfer news, a transfer expert has revealed that this Leeds striker is unlikely to be playing for the club this season.

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