LEEDS UNITED have announced that six players have been released following their relegation from the Premier League.
The most notable are first team stars Adam Forshaw and Joel Robles.
ReutersJoel Robles’ contract has expired[/caption]
GettyAdam Forshaw is also now a free agent[/caption]
The Yorkshire side have also released Will Brook and Stuart McKinstry plus scholars Ben Andreucci and Jay Buchan.
The club are preparing for life in the Championship following a dismal campaign that saw them exit the Premier League.
However, it seems there might still be a future for Forshaw, 31, and Robles, 32, at the club after Leeds announced the unusual decision to invite the pair back to the club for pre-season training next month.
In a statement Leeds said: “We would like to express our thanks to those players who will leave the club in the coming weeks and wish them well for the future.”
Goalkeeper Robles has been linked with an immediate return to the Premier League, with Everton among those said to have an interest with uncertainty around their No1 Jordan Pickford.
Sam Allardyce made the Spaniard his preferred choice for the final four games of the season as he ousted Illan Meslier.
Midfielder Forshaw, who’d been at the club since 2018, made 12 Premier League appearances for the club last season and has a history of injury issues.
Brook, 19, and McKinstry, 20, were on the fringes of the first team.
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Leeds also announced that scholar Scott Godden has been offered a professional contract.
Leeds are currently managerless having decided not to keep Allardyce on after his failure to save them from the drop.
Among those linked with the Elland Road hot seat is Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
As well as finding a manager, the club must also fight off interest in their better players.
Real Madrid are being linked with forward Rodrigo, who bagged 13 Premier League goals last season.
Another Leeds player who could be heading for the exit door is keeper Meslier.
Chelsea, who will listen to offers for stoppers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, have shown an interest in the 23-year-old Frenchman.
But Meslier said: “If it is to go and be on the bench, I’m not interested in that.
“If it’s to be the number one, of course, you can’t say ‘I’m not interested in Chelsea.’
“I’d prefer to go to a less reputable club where I’ll have more game time than a top European club where I’d sit on the bench.”
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