Medical today: Luke Ayling has played his last Leeds United match as new exit details emerge – sources
Leeds United defender Luke Ayling is undergoing a medical at Middlesbrough on Wednesday (10 January), sources have told Football Insider.
Leeds have reached a full agreement with Michael Carrick’s side over a loan for Ayling until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Ayling’s deal at Elland Road is set to expire in the summer and it is believed he has now played his last game for the club – a 12-minute substitute cameo against Peterborough in the FA Cup on Saturday (7 January).
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that the Leeds hierarchy and Daniel Farke decided against handing the 32-year-old an extension before Christmas.
Ayling will join Leeds United youngster Sam Greenwood in moving to Middlesbrough on a loan basis this season.
The London-born star has been with the Whites since leaving Bristol City in 2016 and has racked up 268 total appearances for the Yorkshire giants.
He has turned out 16 times across all competitions this season but last made a Championship appearance in the 1-0 win over Leicester City back in November.
The versatile defender made 32 appearances last term as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.
Ayling plays primarily as a right-back but also featured on the left-hand side and as a central defender during his time at Elland Road.
17-year-old Archie Gray is the favourite to continue as the first-choice right-back with Djed Spence returning from his loan spell to Tottenham already this month.
Leeds sit fourth in the Championship after 26 games, while League Cup semi-finalists Middlesbrough are 12th in the table.
Ayling could make his Boro bow in their next fixture against Millwall on Saturday (13 January).
In other news, Leeds and Southampton hit by transfer blow.