Lewis Bate, a midfielder for Leeds United, may be about to leave Elland Road for good this summer, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
Currently on loan at MK Dons in League Two, Bate, a 21-year-old midfield player, is expected to go for free when his contract with Leeds expires after three years.
Bate was a member of Daniel Farke’s first team when the season began, but he was loaned to MK Dons in January for the balance of the year after making just one substitute appearance in the EFL Cup.
Lewis Bate: might he remain at Leeds United?
Given that Bate’s contract is scheduled to end on June 30, 2024, it is quite improbable that Leeds United would still have him on their roster when the next season gets underway.
After signing a three-year contract during the summer transfer window of 2021, Marcelo Bielsa gave Bate his first-team debut in January of 2022.
That season, he made three appearances in the Premier League, starting the match against Chelsea, but he hasn’t been seen in any other league games.
For the whole 2022–2023 season, Bate was on loan at Oxford United. He made 28 League One appearances and showed promise, but not enough to gain a permanent transfer or a chance to rejoin Leeds’ starting lineup.
After helping MK Dons qualify for the play-offs, the midfielder has also put up some strong performances for the team since joining in January. However, after losing 3-0 to Crawley in their semi-final first-leg, the Dons look destined for another season in League Two.
As Bate’s contract at Elland Road expires, Leeds will not want to get in the way of his search for a long-term residence in League One or Two. Bate seems to have found his level in England’s lower leagues.
