"Wouldn't be fair" - Leeds United told to make Junior Firpo decision ahead of key 2025 date | OneFootball

The left-back is out of contract at the end of the season, and has stated in the past about his reluctance to sign a new deal in the Championship.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Leeds United's season has slowly got better and better, and despite losing to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, they are still in good stead ahead of the festive period.

The Whites currently sit 3rd in the Championship, ahead of Sunderland by two points, and just below Sheffield United and Burnley, who occupy the automatic promotion positions right now.

Daniel Farke has finally started to crack the consistency needed to get his team in contention for a top two finish, and while there will be several frustrations about their defeat at Ewood Park, there is a lot to be excited about at Elland Road.

However, with the January transfer window less than a month away, the attention of those behind the scenes will turn to issues off the pitch.

While immediate incomings and outgoings will be heavily debated, there are contract situations at Leeds that must be addressed soon - including for Junior Firpo.

Leeds United advised not to renew Junior Firpo's contract

The 28-year-old's current deal with the Whites is set to expire at the end of the season, however, it was revealed by Football Insider that he will only renew if the team are back in the Premier League.

But for the club, this is not a promising sign as he did struggle to perform the last time that he was in the top flight, and bringing in a new left-back should be seen as a priority.

Football League World asked their Leeds Fan Pundit, Kris Smith, if he believes that Firpo's contract should be renewed or if Farke should start to look for replacements.

Kris told FLW: I don't think the club are currently eager to get Firpo tied down to a new contract for a couple of reasons.

"Obviously if he was in line for a new contract, we would have already seen it, especially considering how we were so quick to get Willy Gnonto on to on a new one.

"But I think with Firpo, if we stay in the Championship, his wages are too high for us to consider offering him a new deal and it being a viable solution for us.

"If we get back to the Premier League, we know that we're going to have to improve on him anyway because he wasn't up to the standard that we'd need in that division.

"At the moment, I do think the best thing for him is to just to buckle down and do his best to ensure that Leeds do get back to the Premier League at the end of this season.

"If his contract is coming to an end, then that would be the perfect way for him to end his time at Elland Road, sealing it with promotion and hopefully a trophy as well."

"I'd rather that than he goes up with us and gets torn apart in the Premier League again. It just wouldn't be fair on him or on us," Kris added.

"That said, though the club not seeing him down for talks or anything of that degree at the moment should indicate that we are looking for long-term solutions to replace Firpo when that time comes."

Junior Firpo has to be moved on at the end of the season

Although the Dominican Republic international has enjoyed a good season with Leeds in the Championship, it seems clear that his future lies elsewhere.

Farke has shown an interest in Swedish left-back Daniel Svensson, as per Fotboll Direkt, and with the Whites looking towards a replacement already, it seems as though the writing is on the wall for Firpo.

Nevertheless, it should not be seen as a negative for the Yorkshire club, and bringing in a player like Svensson, who is just 22, gives them more security in the position for the years to come. Farke needs players who want to be at Elland Road to guarantee success, and their current full-back is not showing many signs that he wants to remain at the club.

Football Insider also stated that the 28-year-old's wage is relatively high, and taking that off the payroll will only help Leeds financially, and allow them to spend more in other areas of the pitch.