Leeds United could not overcome Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon and now, John Mousinho’s side are trying to sign an Elland Road icon for absolutely nothing.
Goals from Pascal Struijk, Willy Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson was not enough to secure all three points as Mousinho’s men came from behind before taking the lead twice before Aaronson’s 95th-minute goal.
Aaronson of course could have won the match late on, only to shoot wide with the goal gaping. A Leeds side that has been stripped of its two most-prized assets and plenty of other stars in the last few weeks.
Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville have been sold, as have five others. Five have gone on loan and plenty more saw their contracts expire, though Leeds did try to hand defender Liam Cooper a new deal.
Portsmouth want to sign Liam Cooper on a free after 3-3 draw
The Leeds icon left Elland Road on a free this summer after 10 years in Yorkshire, clocking up almost 300 appearances in all competitions. But last season, Cooper only managed 19 outings under Daniel Farke.
He is yet to find himself a new club with the Championship campaign underway. Blackburn held talks but an agreement could not be reached for Cooper, with Blackburn only looking to offer a one-year deal.
Watford have also shown interest in Cooper and now, TeamTalk say Saturday’s opponents Portsmouth want to sign the left-footed defender. Mousinho is eyeing some experience in the middle of his defence.
Cooper would be seventh to leave Leeds for Championship side
Already this summer, six players have left Leeds to join another Championship side – not including Connor Roberts who has returned to parent club Burnley and will be in action against Luton on Monday.
Luke Ayling, Cody Drameh, Ian Poveda and Jamie Shackleton left in similar fashion to Cooper, with their deals at Leeds expiring. Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland and Sheffield United benefiting respectively.
Sam Greenwood has gone to Preston on loan after spending time at Boro’s Middlesbrough last term. Darko Gyabi has rejoined Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth, and Cooper would be no.7 if he joins Portsmouth.
