Leeds United are set to offer their defender Paudie O’Connor a new and improved deal in order to fend off stiff interest from other clubs. According to recent reports, the 20-year-old centre-back will get a pay-rise after he managed to break into Paul Heckingbottom’s first-team at Elland Road this season. He has put in some eye-catching displays in recent weeks which has not gone unnoticed with some of Leeds’ rivals looking to make an offer for his services this summer.
Hence, the West Yorkshire outfit are set to offer him a pay rise in order to retain his services for the near future. His current contract with the Peacocks will run out in the summer of 2019 and now, Leeds want to tie him up on a new, long-term deal. The Irish youngster has gotten a chance in Heckingbottom’s starting eleven after a lot of the club’s players like Matthew Pennington, Liam Cooper and Conor Shaughnessy fell victim to injuries.
O’Connor has formed a formidable defensive partnership with Pontus Jansson and now, it seems like he will end the season as Leeds United’s first-choice centre-back. Only time will tell whether the West Yorkshire side’s move to sign him on a long-term deal turns out to be the right move or another false hope.
The Peacocks are currently sitting in the 14th place in the English Championship rankings with a tally of 54 points in 43 league matches. Their season has fizzled out after a promising start under their former manager Thomas Christiansen and now, it looks like Heckingbottom’s team are in dire need of some fresh faces in the summer transfer period who can help them in their quest to push for a promotion spot next term.
Retaining some of their top, young talents like O’Connor could go a long way in helping them secure a route back to the Premier League in the coming years. At 20, O’Connor has massive potential which Leeds could look to capitalise on for years to come. The 20-year-old defender has impressed during his time with Limerick and now, with the Peacocks which indicates that he has a bright future at Elland Road.
Read More: West Ham United Plotting Move For Leeds United Star: Should Heckingbottom Sanction His Exit?
It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of O’Connor and whether he ends up penning a new deal at the West Yorkshire club in the near future.
