Whelan surprised by ‘very strange’ Alioski update from Leeds
Noel Whelan is surprised Ezgjan Alioski is on the published Leeds United retained list and suggested the club are covering their back with the revelation.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the 29-year-old’s situation at Elland Road is “very strange”.
Leeds published their retained list on Thursday and confirmed Alioski had been offered a new contract.
The North Macedonia international’s current terms expire this summer.
As such, there has been much speculation over the left-sided star’s future.
Whelan suggested Leeds would be happy for Alioski to stay but only as backup to the starting XI.
Whelan told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: “It’s a very strange one, isn’t it?
“The season’s come to an end, he’s now going to be out of contract. The contract’s on the table. He’s had a very good, successful season at Leeds.
“Are they thinking they can use him as a squad player? Maybe. Somebody that’s in and around the ground, that has a good relationship with the other players, absolutely.
“I can see why they offered him the contract because some of his performances have been fantastic this season. It might just be the club saying well, we did all we could to keep him by offering him a contract.
“He may want to play regular football somewhere else. The club are covering their back, I guess, in offering him a contract anyway.”
Alioski was a regular for Leeds throughout the 2020/21 campaign, with 29 starts in 36 league appearances.
He was utilised primarily as a makeshift left-sided wing-back by Marcelo Bielsa.
In other news, Leeds United have been tipped to replace first-team mainstay with “next level” signing as top target revealed.