After Leeds United hinted at an Elland Road exit, Liam Cooper appears certain to depart the club when his contract expires this summer.
After ten years of service, the captain was a mainstay for most of that time. However, as of late, he has found himself as the fourth-choice center defense in the lineup, behind Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, who joined on loan, and Ethan Ampadu, a midfielder.
With his current contract due to expire once the season comes to an end, speculation has been rife about whether he will stick around after turning down interest from Saudi Arabia for a lucrative move last year.
But the club may have dropped their biggest hint yet that they have no intentions on keeping him heading into the 2024/25 season, after what happened at the club’s season awards this week.
Cooper was handed a “Special Achievement” award alongside recently retired Stuart Dallas and recently departed Luke Ayling on the night, honouring their service to the club over the years.
But it was impossible to ignore that both Dallas and Ayling are no longer part of the permanent playing staff, and it was almost a signalling of a change of the guard at the club going forward.
Is it OK for Leeds United to let Liam Cooper go?
If you can get past all the romance of keeping him at the club, it would ultimately be the proper choice to let him go.
Cooper has had moments of difficulty in the Championship this year, and Daniel Farke’s style of play—which emphasizes aggressive pressing and a high line—just doesn’t work for an aging center defender whose primary defensive and aerial duels-winning strategies.
He is obviously not good enough to assist at that level if the club makes it to the Premier League, and if the squad is still in the Championship the next season, things need to be taken very seriously.
For everything he accomplished at the club, Cooper will always be remembered as a club hero and a fan favorite, but it’s time for him to move on.
