Leeds United have no plans to offer midfielder Stuart Dallas a new contract at the end of the season, according to Football Insider.
The 32-year-old has been out of action since April 2022, when he suffered a fractured femoral bone when going into a challenge with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish. It was a bitter end to the 2021/22 campaign, where he had been an ever-present for the Whites under both Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
Having signed from Brentford for a fee of £1.3 million in 2015, Dallas has made 267 appearances for the Yorkshire-based club. He played a key role in their Championship title winning campaign in the 2019/20 season, ending Leeds’ 16-year spell outside the top flight.
His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, prompting speculation that he has made his last outing for the club. Football Insider state that this is the case, with the decision having been made to release the Northern Ireland international.
It is claimed that there are currently fears that Dallas will be able to play at the highest level again, having suffered such a serious injury that has kept him on the sidelines for nearly two years. However, the versatile midfielder said earlier this week that he hopes to return by the end of the season, whilst also adding to his 62 caps for his country in the summer. Speaking to BBC Sport NI, he said:
“I hope I can. I’m still a bit away from that yet.
“It’s been a frustrating couple of years for me. The aim is to get back before the end of the season.
“Whether that happens or not we don’t know but I’m working as hard as I can and if that means being available in the summer, I hope so. At the minute we’re taking one day at a time and we’ll see where that takes me.
“They’ve been difficult, there’s no getting away from it. It’s been a tough road. At times a lonely road but I’ve got good support around me.”
Addressing his contract situation, Dallas said:
“There’s still a few weeks to go until the end of the season and I’m putting everything into that.
“There’s always big decisions to make. I’m out of contract at the end of the year but there’s one thing for sure, I’ll not give up and I would never turn my back on my country.
“If that means continuing, that’s what I’ll like to do.
“That would be the aim but we’ll take it one day at a time and see where we go.”
Leeds are currently top of the Championship, level on points with Leicester City. However, the Foxes have played a game less. Daniel Farke’s team resume their title charge on Friday against Watford before welcoming Hull City to Elland Road on Easter Monday.
Writer’s View
Leeds fan will be rooting for Dallas and will be hoping to see him feature for the club again in the future. However, it is so tough to return to the highest level after suffering a career-threatening injury such as this.
With the time and effort the Whites have spent nurturing the midfielder back to fitness, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them offer him a one-year extension or a pay-as-you-play deal. It appears as if he has set himself a target of returning before the end of the season and it would be excellent to see him back in the professional game.
