There are four senior players due to enter the final six months of their Leeds United contract when the January window opens, but plenty more from the academy will leave Elland Road on a free.
As things stand, goalkeeping trio Karl Darlow, Alex Cairns and Illan Meslier are all set to enter the final year of their contracts. Meslier has been linked with Anderlecht of late, ahead of the winter window.
Non-English clubs will be able to approach players in the final six months of their contracts. It might be that Anderlecht try to sign Meslier on a pre-contract deal, which would see Meslier go in the summer.
Sam Byram also finds himself out of contract, while plenty of young players are in the final years of their Leeds deals. One player set to leave at the end of the season, as things stand, is goalkeeper Alex Baird.
A general view of Leeds United's Elland Road stadium.
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Alex Baird could leave Leeds United as early as January
Baird, 18, is yet to feature for Leeds this season having played eight times in the U18 Premier League side for Leeds. During that spell, he conceded 19 goals but only managed to keep a total of two clean sheets.
Transfer expert Pete O’Rourke reported on X that Baird is set to leave Leeds on a free transfer, with several clubs interested in taking the goalkeeper from Elland Road when the January transfer window opens.
“Alex Baird is attracting strong interest from a host of clubs ahead of the January transfer window. He will be available on a free transfer in January with several sides monitoring his situation closely.”
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Which Leeds youngsters are also out of contract alongside Baird?
There are currently four players in Scott Gardner’s U21 side that find themselves out of contract next summer. Connor Douglas and Devon Brockie are two players that are awaiting a decision from Leeds.
Striker Lewis Pirie, signed from Aberdeen, is also out of contract next summer. Pirie is expected to join Guiseley on a short-term loan in due course, while Rhys Chadwick is also out of contract next summer.
Chadwick has sparkled for the 21s, having a hand in 26 goals last season. The playmaker has been a regular in senior training this season and it would be a surprise if Leeds do not tie up his future soon.