Some are already heading for the exit door but a few other Leeds United players could join them
Wilfried Gnonto has struggled for game time(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has made no secret of the fact that sales will be made this summer.
Leeds brought in notably little for outgoings last year amid the need to bulk out the squad and keep the core intact. Indeed, the aim is to keep the inner core heading into this summer too, but those on the edges might be at risk of saying their goodbyes to Elland Road.
Such a conclusion might also come from the player’s camp. Ultimately, as with any team, those who have struggled to get onto the pitch may be harbouring thoughts about the future.
The likes of Wilfried Gnonto, subject of an enquiry by Freiburg, and Joel Piroe – who had multiple offers in January – enjoyed a mere combined six league starts across the whole season.
Meanwhile, soon-to-be free agent Sam Byram is set to exit after scant pitch time while Illan Meslier also sees his contract expire after a year of sitting on the sidelines. And most of those who were loaned out – aside from youngster Harry Gray and the injured Mateo Joseph – will also be among considerations for the axe.
The Leeds board will be weighing up who is surplus to requirements and could make them a bit of cash with a sale. One consideration within this will be the game time they earned under Farke last season, and any mitigating reasons behind this.
For example, Daniel James was injured frequently this season while Lucas Perri was dropped as number one in January. Below is the number of Premier League minutes each non-loaned-out senior player earned across last season.
We have marked who could be in the danger zone [denoted in italics] with less than 900 minutes – which is the equivalent of 10 full games; just over a quarter of a total Premier League season.
Ethan Ampadu (Contract: 2030) – 3,123 minutes
Joe Rodon (2028) – 2,954
Pascal Struijk (2027) – 2,937
Jayden Bogle (2028) – 2,805
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (2028) – 2,730
Gabriel Gudmundsson (2029) – 2,639
Brenden Aaronson (2027) – 2,470
Anton Stach (2029) – 2,378
Karl Darlow (2026) – 1,980
James Justin (2029) – 1,896
Jaka Bijol (2030) – 1,893
Noah Okafor (2029) – 1,569
Lucas Perri (2029) – 1,440
Ilia Gruev (2027) – 1,324
Ao Tanaka (2028) – 1,318
Lukas Nmecha (2027) – 1,073
Sean Longstaff (2029) – 1,006
Daniel James (2029) – 553
Wilfried Gnonto (2028) – 524
Sebastiaan Bornauw (2029) – 433
Joel Piroe (2027) – 246
Sam Byram (2026) – 6
Illan Meslier (2026) – 0
Alex Cairns (2026) – 0
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