Luke Ayling’s contract with Leeds United expires in the summer, and Sheffield United wants to recruit him when free agency opens, The Sun reports.
After spending the second half of the season on loan at Middlesbrough, the full-back now appears poised to leave on a permanent basis.
The 32-year-old’s Elland Road contract is set to expire this summer, sparking interest in signing him.
According to a report by Alan Nixon on Sunday, April 21, Sheffield United, the bottom-of-the-PL, is considering a free move for Ayling.
“Chris Wilder, the manager of Sheffield United, wants to sign Luke Ayling as he builds a new squad to bounce back next season,” he stated.
Ayling, 32, had a brief tenure at Middlesbrough before becoming a free agent in the summer. The former Leeds defender is the kind of reliable player that Wilder is looking for—he can play center-half or right-back.
Luke Ayling: Should Leeds United sell him?
Ayling came to the Whites from Bristol City in August of 2016, and since then, there is no denying that he has served the team admirably.
During that period, he made 268 appearances and scored 11 goals [FotMob] in the Premier League and Championship over the course of eight years.
Even though the Englishman played 16 games for Daniel Farke’s team this season, he moved to Boro during the January transfer window.
Since then, he has made 17 appearances while Michael Carrick’s team attempts to secure a play-off spot.
Ayling’s future at Elland Road depends on Leeds’s circumstances come summertime and the promotion race.
Without a doubt, the full back might contribute to the team if they regrettably stay in the Championship.
On the other hand, he won’t have a spot in the team if Farke’s team gets promoted, thus a move to the Championship would make sense.
