The Athletic’s Phil Hay has suggested it’s “implausible” to think Rodrigo will extend his contract at Leeds United.
The Spaniard signed for Leeds in 2020 in a £27million deal from Valencia. He has gone on to score 28 goals in 96 games, with 13 of those strikes coming in the 2022/23 season.
Writing in his latest column for The Athletic on Friday 26 May, Hay believes it’s ridiculous to think Rodrigo will be at Elland Road if Leeds are relegated on Sunday.
“He has a year left on his contract and while Leeds were minded to discuss a 12-month extension, it seems implausible that one of their higher earners will still be here if Sunday’s events require planning for a year down in the EFL,” said Hay (The Athletic).
“So Rodrigo might be in the final throes of his career at Elland Road and if this is it for him, it is hard to imagine that he will depart feeling fulfilled or thinking his transfer to England hit the bullseye.
“But this season does allow him to say that he proved he could do it in the Premier League, defining him in a slightly different way.”
Out the door
High-earners like Rodrigo will almost certainly leave the club if Leeds are relegated. Cost-cutting measures will have to be implemented and off-loading high earners seems like a smart place to start. Rodrigo, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford would be the most obvious candidates.
Harrison only signed a new deal a matter of months ago, but will undoubtedly have a clause within his contract which allows him to depart for a specific fee in the summer. There has been talk of West Ham United showing interest in the winger. If Leeds do go down, Andrea Radrizzani will gladly do business with the Hammers.
Anything is possible on the final day but we all know the likelihood of Leeds remaining in the Premier League. Tottenham will be a stern test at Elland Road. Despite their poor recent form, Spurs are more than capable of turning it on when they want to.
Getting the job done as early as possible will be Allardyce’s aim. An early goal could heap the pressure on Everton and Leicester City, who face Bournemouth and West Ham respectively.
