Leeds stars targeted for legal letter & docked pay threat - Sources

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Published on:

14 Apr 2020, 1:30 pm

Leeds United are prepared to send legal letters to their stars warning them they will have pay docked if they don't return for the club's 'pre-season', Football Insider understands.

The EFL and the Premier League are planning to resume action in the second or third week of June, which would mean a return to full training in mid-May.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club are set to soon grant their senior stars dispensation to undertake their annual leave, as there is likely to be only a short gap between this season ending and the new one beginning.

Players are set to reminded in strongly-worded letters they would leave the UK at their own risk.

With the club's blessing, Kiko Casilla, 33, has spent time in his native Spain since being hit with an eight-match racism ban at the start of last month.

He won't be available for Leeds' six Championship matches when the season re-starts as he completes his own personal suspension.

Nevertheless, the United number one, who is believed to be on a deal worth £40,000-a-week, will be expected, like his teammates, to be present when full training resumes.

The Spaniard may be the most likely player to fall foul of potential travel difficulties, given his personal situation.

The club's other foreign players as well as England-based stars could plan to take holidays overseas in the coming weeks.

The punishment for not returning in time for 'pre-season' would be docked pay for a squad who led the way nationally by agreeing to defer their wages during the suspension of football.

Leaked plans from the EFL have revealed all 71 clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two have been told not to resume group training before 16 May.

The new sketched-out plan is for them to return for 'pre-season' in just over four weeks' time, with a programme of around three weeks likely to then get them in top shape for the resumption of the campaign.

In other Leeds United news, a blockbuster club deal is on hold even though the contract has been 'signed'.

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