This season will be a summer of change for Leeds United. Plenty of incoming signings are required for the club to stand a chance of Premier League survival come 2025-26.
But for Leeds to make such a big influx of signings with the £100m mark likely to be crossed, Leeds and The 49ers will have to wave goodbye to a few current players that are contracted to the Yorkshire club.
Phil Hay thinks Illan Meslier is “done” at Leeds and Graham Smyth reckons Patrick Bamford could go. Josuha Guilavogui, Sam Byram and Junior Firpo will see their Elland Road contracts expire this summer.
But beyond the current first-team squad, Daniel Farke will also be required to make decisions on players that are returning from loan spells. They include the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Jack Harrison and Darko Gyabi.
Photo by Isabelle Field/Plymouth Argyle via Getty ImagesDarko Gyabi confirms he is returning to Leeds this summer
It is now three years since Gyabi joined Leeds from Man City for a £5m fee, a deal which was stuck in the talks that took Kalvin Phillips to City. Ironically, Gyabi could leave and Phillips could return to Leeds.
In his three years at Leeds, Gyabi has played five times for the senior side and spent the last 18 months on loan at Plymouth. In that time, he’s clocked up 58 appearances for Plymouth in league and cup.
Having penned a four-year deal on his arrival at Leeds, the England U21 man has a year left on his deal. On Saturday, he waved goodbye to Plymouth with a touching post – thus confirming his Leeds return.
He said: “Grateful for the opportunity to have been able to play for this club. A difficult season but lots of lessons and growth. Thank you to the Green Army and everyone at Argyle for the incredible memories.”
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What next for Darko Gyabi as he returns to Leeds after loan…
If Gyabi had little chance of playing for Leeds under Farke in the Championship, there is no way he will get any game time in the Premier League. Gyabi is surplus to requirements at Elland Road right now.
Back in the summer of 2023, Leeds rejected a £4m offer from Valenciennes for Gyabi. The Whites may be wishing they took the French club up on that offer two years ago, with that kind of fee now unlikely.
With Gyabi now in the final year of his contract, the former Man City man is likely to be sold but for a lot less than their initial outlay and probably less than the £4m Valenciennes were willing to pay in 2023.