Leeds United’s captain Liam Cooper’s future at the club is becoming increasingly uncertain as the season nears its end. With just five regular-season games left, and potentially three more in the playoffs, Leeds United’s push for promotion back to the Premier League is reaching a critical point. However, Cooper’s role in this final stretch appears to be diminishing.
Daniel Farke, Leeds United’s head coach, has found a successful defensive formula with Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu, whose partnership has been integral to the team’s solid performances in 2024. This has left Cooper, who has been a stalwart for Leeds over the years, on the fringes of the first team.
The recent match against Watford highlighted this shift. Cooper was substituted in the second half for Junior Firpo, which allowed Ampadu to move back into the central defense, resulting in a more balanced Leeds side. Farke has expressed his reluctance to break up the Rodon-Ampadu partnership, indicating that Cooper may not see much game time unless there are injuries or a need for defensive reinforcement in the dying minutes of matches.
With Cooper’s contract set to expire in the summer and no new deal on the horizon, it’s possible that the long-serving defender has already played his last game for Leeds United. His departure would mark the end of an era for a player who has been a key figure in the club’s recent history, including their promotion to the Premier League and subsequent campaigns in the top flight.
Citations:
[1] https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/liam-cooper-verdict-given-as-ex-leeds-united-man-spells-out-skippers-uncertain-future-4573576
[2] https://onefootball.com/fr/news/exclusive-brian-deane-issues-liam-cooper-prediction-at-leeds-united-39164214
[3] https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-players-that-could-follow-liam-cooper-out-of-leeds-united-this-summer/
[4] https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/liam-coopers-leeds-united-future-28545416
[5] https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/leeds-united-latest-koni-de-winter-liam-cooper-pascal-struijk/
[6] https://www.leedsallover.com/we-may-have-already-seen-last-of-leeds-united-man-after-what-daniel-farke-had-to-do-recently-view/
[7] https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/33135/liam-cooper-named-in-latest-scotland-squad
[8] https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/if-go-up-leeds-united-28773298