Sources: Leeds face losing rising star who's blown senior teammates away

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Published on:

06 Apr 2020, 10:30 am

Leeds United risk losing Oliver Casey if they cannot tie him to a new deal in the coming weeks.

The 19-year-old, who has played for the first team this season, is out of contract at the end of June.

Leeds face the prospect of negotiating a fresh agreement for the teenager while the UK is in lockdown and the players are training on their own at home.

How Bielsa knew Casey was mentally ready for today: "One clear fact is when his team-mates accept him or not. The group has a sixth sense to realise which players they want close to them or not." Got the thumbs up from his team-mates in training. #lufc
— Beren Cross (@BerenCross) December 7, 2019

Casey is part of the first-team squad at Leeds and was handed his senior debut by Marcelo Bielsa back in December, replacing Mateusz Klich in a win over Huddersfield.

He has subsequently been on the bench for 10 Championship matches, including the 2-0 triumph in the reverse fixture against Danny Cowley's side in the last weekend of league fixture's before football ground to a halt.

Marcelo Bielsa has spoken warmly of Casey this season and promoted him to the first team after explaining how the senior Leeds players had given him the thumbs-up in training.

The youngster signed his first professional deal as a 17-year-old in November 2018, putting pen to paper on a contract which is set to expire in two months.

He is primarily a centre-back but, like loan star Ben White, can also play in a defensive midfield role.

Ex-Leeds star Noel Whelan has suggested it is a big concern that Casey has not yet signed an extension.

"The fact he's not put pen to paper right now, it's going to be very, very difficult to get things sorted out while this (lockdown) is going on," Whelan told Football Insider.

"Players are away at home but I'm pretty sure the club are speaking to his representatives, speaking to the player over the phone or over Skype, whatever way they want to do it. To be quite honest the player will be out of the picture.

In other Leeds United news, a flop signing has been tipped to be a completely different beast in the Premier League next season by Danny Mills.

Leeds United