This summer, Leeds United will aim to offload several high-paid players, including this vital star.
Leeds United will be anxious to return to winning ways in the Championship when they travel to Middlesbrough tonight, and any manner of victory would suffice, even if Daniel Farke’s Whites must be gritty and forceful in order to grab a vital three points.
Leeds’ performance in the previous game, a 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers, was passive, with 75% possession at Elland Road but little firepower to back it up.
It will be interesting to watch what line-up Farke selects to face Michael Carrick’s Boro on their travels, after starting Connor Roberts in place of Sam Byram in the catastrophic loss to the Riversiders, among other changes.
Byram will want to be reinstated for the key match after missing out against Blackburn at home, eager to have as many minutes under his belt as possible between now and the end of the season in case he is released at the conclusion of his contract in June.
Sam Byram’s season at Leeds in numbers.
Byram first appeared on the professional scene at Leeds in 2012 as a wide-eyed kid, and after working his way through the youth levels to become a first-team regular, he left his boyhood club in 2016 to join Norwich City.
The significantly older 30-year-old would have a joyous homecoming at the start of this season, having been signed on a free transfer after being released by the Canaries.
Despite his lengthy layoff, Byram has smoothly reintegrated into the West Yorkshire squad, becoming a valuable utility player for Farke by performing adequately in both full-back positions during the season.
The veteran head has gone on to make 33 appearances for his promotion-chasing team in all competitions this season, scoring two goals, including this instinctive shot against Hull City.
Byram’s minutes have been dwindling in recent months, exacerbated by the arrival of loanee Connor Roberts in January and the improved form of Junior Firpo, who has solidified his position on the left side.
Able to play at both full-back positions, Farke will know he can call on Byram at any time to fill in for any squad members who are underperforming or need a break.
The German manager even defined Byram as “important” to the Leeds jigsaw early this season, citing the number of appearances he had made.
It remains to be seen whether the 30-year-old will be retained beyond this reunion campaign, with concerns raised over Byram’s ability to manage the step-up to the Premier League if Leeds are promoted.
With Byram’s contract expiring in June, and a number of other players’ fates uncertain, the elderly defender may find himself without a club very soon as Leeds attempts to replace him with younger and fresher players.
There’s also the notion that Byram’s departure may effectively free up the pay bill, with the former Norwich City man earning five times Archie Gray’s present salary despite the 19-year-old occasionally playing right-back – who is already ahead of Byram in the Whites’ pecking order.
Sam Byram’s salary at Leeds
Byram now earns a nice £25k per week in Leeds’ senior ranks, which means he will cost the Championship automatic promotion contenders £1.3 million in salary alone over the course of the season, even as a free agent signing.
That means the 5’11” defender earns more than electric Leeds stars Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto, who earn only £15k and £20k per week, respectively.
The Dutchman’s smaller compensation compared to Byram’s heftier £25k-per-week pay cheque is especially surprising given his outstanding record this season for the Whites, which earned him the Championship Player of the Season award at the recent EFL Awards.
Liam Cooper is another player who could be on his way out in the coming months due to a lack of fresh contract offers, although he still commands a high salary.
The Scotsman earns the same £25k per week as Byram, despite making only four appearances for the Whites this season as a player who has fallen out of favour at Elland Road.
Byram isn’t quite there just yet, seen in his heroics against Hull just last month, but the ex-Canaries defender must be feeling anxious about his future alongside Cooper.
With both men making five times more than Gray, the powers that be in West Yorkshire may decide that breaking connections with the overpriced duo is the best way to increase the salary of other key performers this summer.
There might be a total clearout at Elland Road involving players whose contracts are expiring, as Farke seeks to assemble a side that is either robust enough to survive in the Premier League or strong enough to challenge for promotion again depending on the conclusion of this tight season.
Byram’s future in Leeds
It would be a smack in the face for the former youth product if his comeback to Leeds was cut short after only one season, especially if his quick return to the Whites results in promotion ecstasy and he knows he won’t even be present to compete in the Premier League for his boyhood club.
Cooper will also feel lost if Leeds break relations with him at the conclusion of the season, having been a part of numerous Whites teams since 2014.
Jamie Shackleton is in the similar situation, with his contract unlikely to be renewed, but he has only cost Leeds £1.5k per week this season as a member of the team who feels expendable.
Farke will build his team around Archie Gray next season, assuming Leeds can maintain their 19-year-old superstar amidst interest from Liverpool, and away from figures like Cooper and Byram, who will be remembered for being solid characters even if they are moved on.
