Daniel Farke’s admission last week that Leeds United had not even begun preliminary negotiations with Junior Firpo regarding a new contract at Elland Road aroused eyebrows.
After all, the £13 million Barcelona acquisition had been one of the team’s top players in 2024–2025, playing the finest football of his Leeds United career after coming back from a six-week injury layoff following Christmas.
Furthermore, Leeds’ decision to put talks on hold raises the possibility that the team would lose their first-choice left-back for free during the forthcoming summer transfer window, as Real Betis is eager to bring Junior Firpo back to Spain.
Leeds did not want to divert Junior Firpo by starting contract negotiations in the middle of a title challenge, Daniel Farke explained prior to the FA Cup loss to Millwall. The German claims that there is just “no time” in their hectic schedule to concentrate on anything but their 14 Championship games left.
Daniel Farke discusses the contract situation, casting doubt on Junior Firpo’s future at Leeds United.
When the “unplayable” Manor Solomon, Dan James, and Joel Piroe thrashed Watford in the middle of the week, Leeds took a step closer to promotion.
With another victory over Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats on Monday night, the table-toppers may increase their lead over rivals Sunderland to ten points.
In the lead-up to that match against Sunderland, Farke provided another behind-the-scenes look at Leeds’ contract negotiations.
At £60,000 each week, Junior Firpo is reputedly the club’s second-highest earner, trailing only injured scorer Patrick Bamford. Farke also stated that Leeds would not be able to approve any move for a player like Firpo until it was established which division they would be playing in in 2025–2026, even though he did not specifically name the Dominican Republic international, who was born in Spain.
Farke says, “It’s a little complicated because the financial resources differ a bit.” For instance, you may have to wait a little while if you decide to extend the contract of a highly paid player who is typically too costly for the Championship. You have to plan a little more carefully when it comes to the money.
“Or, the other way round, [you have to wait and see] if you really can afford to be there as a Premier League signing. You must wait till the Premier League’s money is certain.
Because we want to be sustainable, you need to plan a little more carefully. We cannot take chances with the club’s long-term survival by acting irrationally.
“For teams in our situation, things are always a little complicated.”
Leeds also placed the negotiations between Joshua Guilavogui and Sam Byram on hold.
As of right now, Joshua Guilavogui and Sam Byram will also be free agents on July 1.
Byram and Guilavogui each receive about a third of Firpo’s weekly salary, according to Capology, so theoretically, Leeds shouldn’t be able to extend their contracts even if they experience another heartbreak like they did the previous season.
“The situation is the same for every team,” Farke continues. You frequently don’t know which league you’ll play in until May. It can be quite challenging at times. The squad planning process must begin around in June or later if you are in the playoff final.
It can be a little simpler at times if you are leading by seven points, like you were with Burnley [in 2022–2023). However, you usually can’t accomplish your concrete plans until quite late in this wild league.
In order to make selections as soon as possible, it’s critical to have a few options ready. It is ideal if you make decisions in your important roles as soon as possible.
Two weeks ago, Leeds crushed Cardiff City 7-0 thanks to three assists from Junior Firpo. alongside seven assists, he now shares the top spot on the team’s assist charts alongside Manor Solomon.
But against Sunderland, Firpo’s defensive skills will be required because Patrick Roberts is always a challenging opponent on the right side of Le Bris’ attack.
Generally speaking, Sunderland is a courageous team. Regarding Monday’s opponents, Farke states, “They can score from pretty much every position.”
“Regis has demonstrated during his career that he is an accomplished manager. At this level, Sunderland has seasoned players who could take the lead. They are among this league’s top teams.
“We should have won the last game against them as we dominated many periods [until Illan Meslier’s mistake gifted Sunderland a point in stoppage-time]. We have to be concentrated.”
