Leeds United keeper Andy Lonergan has departed the club recently by mutual consent. The Peacocks have confirmed on their official website that the English keeper has mutually parted ways with the club, just a year after his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer.
The goalkeeper sealed a return to Elland Road for a second time last summer, having previously played for the club in the 2011-2012 campaign. Lonergan had featured in 9 matches for the Whites in all competitions last season.
In a recent interview, the English goalie reflected back on his time at the club and was quoted to have said, “I really enjoyed being back at Leeds United again and I’d like to thank all of the staff and players I’ve worked with every day.
“The biggest thank you must go to the supporters though and I wish the club the best of luck for next season.”
He was a sporadic feature for the Peacocks during the course of last season which is why a move away from West Yorkshire might be the best decision for everyone involved. Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is in dire need to bring in a new goalkeeper during this summer transfer period who can fill the shoes of Lonergan at Elland Road in the upcoming campaign.
The Whites only managed to attain a 13th placed finish in the second tier of English football last season. Hence, they need to improve their squad significantly and recruit wisely in this ongoing transfer window if Bielsa wants to compete for a promotion spot next term.
Retaining some of their top talents could go a long way in helping Leeds close the gap to their prime competitors and earn a place back in the English top-flight. However, the departure of Lonergan wouldn’t affect their squad too much going into the new season as the West Yorkshire outfit can easily replace him with a promising young talent who can be of service to them for years to come.
Lonergan will definitely benefit from testing the free agent market as he looks to earn more first-team opportunities heading into the twilight years of his career. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of the English goalie and whether his decision to leave Elland Road turns out to be the correct call.
