Leeds United will have to be ruthless in the upcoming summer transfer window in order to create a squad that can survive in the Premier League next season.
The Whites, who clinched the Championship title with a win over Plymouth Argyle on the final day, know that it will be difficult because the last two sets of promoted teams have been instantly relegated from the top-flight.
Daniel Farke and his staff will have to be ruthless when it comes to deciding which players are up for the task of making the step up to the Premier League, and one star whose future remains up in the air is Sam Byram, as his current deal is due to expire this summer.
Speaking to The Athletic, the English full-back said: Now we’ve achieved the final target, I’m sure they’ll speak as a team, investors, everyone, and make a plan for the future. Hopefully, I’m part of that, and, if not, I’ll watch on and always be a supporter.”
It remains to be seen whether or not the Whites will look to extend his contract beyond this summer, or if they will allow the former academy graduate to move on from Elland Road for the second time in his career.
Why Leeds should allow Sam Byram to leave
The 31-year-old defender has been a useful utility player for Farke to call upon since his return to West Yorkshire on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, thanks to his ability to play at right-back, left-back, and sometimes as an emergency centre-back.
He has made 75 appearances for the club in all competitions in the last two seasons, which shows how much the manager has relied upon him, but his recent availability is an outlier in comparison to the rest of his career.
24/25
38
23/24
37
22/23
16
21/22
18
20/21
0
19/20
18
18/19
7
17/18
10
16/17
18
As you can see in the table above, in the seven full seasons he played, after leaving Leeds in January 2016 to join West Ham, Byram did not play more than 18 games in a single campaign for the Hammers, Nottingham Forest, or Norwich City.
That included missing the entire 2020/21 season for the Canaries through injury, as well as 39 games in the 2018/19 campaign and 40 matches in the 2019/20 term through injury, which shows that there are still concerns over his long-term availability.
Therefore, Leeds should consider releasing Byram when his contract expires this summer, instead of attempting to extend his deal, and use that space to bolster their squad with a new signing.
In fact, there is reportedly an active full-back target for the West Yorkshire outfit who could come in as a big upgrade on the former Norwich defender ahead of next season.
Leeds make contact to sign Premier League defender
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Leeds United have made contact with £15m-rated Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters to discuss a potential move to Elland Road.
The reporter claims that the Whites are one of a number of clubs in the race to sign the English defender, whose contract at St. Mary’s is due to expire at the same time as Byram’s.
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Speaking to Leeds United News, Bailey said: “I’m told no decision just yet. Leeds have had contact, but as we know they’re one of many clubs to be in touch with him. West Ham, Spurs, Everton… there’s loads. And some foreign clubs are lurking too. Can Leeds get him? Of course. But from what I can make out it’s going to be tough.”
This suggests that Leeds have a fight on their hands to get a deal over the line for the two-time England international, as they line up a move for him alongside a host of other, more established, Premier League sides.
The 49ers must, now, push to win the race for Walker-Peters when his contract at Southampton expires this summer because he could arrive at Elland Road as a big upgrade on Sam Byram.
Why Leeds should sign Kyle Walker-Peters
Perhaps most importantly, the England international is not injury-prone and unreliable when it comes to being available for his team throughout a season.
Walker-Peters has never missed more than eight games in a single campaign and has only been absent for 24 matches through injury in his entire career to date, which suggests that the club could be far more confident of having him available week-in-week-out than they would be with Byram if they extended his contract.
The 28-year-old star has also proven that he can handle the intensity of the Premier League, when it comes to avoiding injuries, as he has played 148 times in the top-flight, which is the main reason why he would be a huge upgrade on Byram, given his availability.
Walker-Peters, who was once described as a “beautiful” footballer by former manager Russell Martin, is also similar to Byram in the sense that he can competently play as a right-back or a left-back, with over 50 appearances in his career as a left-back.
The English defender could also come in to provide Jayden Bogle with some strong competition for his place in the side, despite being part of a dismal Southampton team this season, as evidenced by his form in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.
Appearances
43
44
36
Goals
2
6
1
Big chances created
12
11
5
xA
7.43
5.87
1.50
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.9
3.0
1.5
Dribbled past per game
0.4x
0.8x
0.1x
Ground duel success rate
60%
55%
60%
As you can see in the table above, Bogle offers a great goal threat, but Walker-Peters is more creative and harder for opposition wingers to beat with attempted dribbles.
These statistics also show that the Saints star would be a huge upgrade on Byram because he can provide the defensive solidity, given his duel success rate and tackles and interceptions per game, that the ex-Norwich man provides, whilst also offering a big threat as a creator from a right-back position.
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Therefore, Leeds could land a big upgrade on Byram, allowing themselves to release him this summer, by signing Walker-Peters, who can offer more quality on the pitch whilst also being less of an injury liability.