Liam Cooper is desperate to stay at Leeds United but Daniel Farke doesn’t see him in his Premier League squad

Leeds United’s Scotland defender Liam Cooper is keen to extend his stay at the club this summer, but his future depends on the outcome of the team’s crucial game against Southampton on Sunday 26 May.

According to a report by David Anderson of the Sunday People, the final decision will be made after the final whistle of the Play-Off final, which will determine whether Leeds United secure promotion to the Premier League.

Cooper, who has been at Leeds United since 2014, is keen to reach the milestone of ten years at the club. Despite his dedication and long service, this season has seen him take on more of a supporting role within the team. He made just 16 appearances in the Championship, with just eight starts. His limited playing time during the play-offs, with just seven minutes in the second leg win against Norwich, underlines his diminutive presence on the pitch.

Daniel Farke brought on Leeds United legend Liam Cooper against Norwich City

Daniel Farke, the Leeds United manager, has made it clear that Cooper’s recent emergence has been driven by tactical need rather than sentimentality. During the second leg match against Norwich, Cooper was brought on to replace Ilia Gruev, who was on a yellow card, and to provide cover for Ethan Ampadu, the team’s main midfielder.

Farke emphasized that the substitution was a strategic move, telling Leeds Live: “We wanted Liam (on) then, not just as a thank you for all his work, but Ilia was on yellow too, and Ethan Ampadu he’s pretty much the only player who can fill that six-deep role.”

Liam Cooper’s time at Leeds could be coming to an end

The looming play-off final against Southampton is crucial to Leeds United’s ambitions to return to the Premier League.

For Cooper, the stakes are just as high on a personal level. Should Leeds triumph and secure promotion, the club are unlikely to offer him a new contract, suggesting his tenure at Elland Road could be coming to an end. This would mark a significant change for the player who has been a central figure in the team for nearly a decade.

As Leeds United prepare for what could be a defining moment in their season, Liam Cooper faces an uncertain future. His desire to stay and get a decade’s service with the club is clear, but the final decision will depend on the team’s success in the Play-Off final.