Hope for Leeds as big final play is made to decide Ezgjan Alioski future
Gjanni Alioski could yet sign a new deal to stay at Leeds United amid claims the versatile star is ready to stay at Elland Road after all.
Alioski played 38 times for Leeds this season and is very much a trusted member of Marcelo Bielsa’s side. However, the versatile star is out of contract in a month’s time and has been strongly linked with a move away. Indeed, Turkish side Galatasaray are said to be leading the chase for the 29-year-old star.
Leeds though have never given up hope of keeping Alioski. Talks over an extension have been going on for some time, though they are yet to reach common ground.
Indeed, Bielsa has made it clear to Alioski that he would more than welcome him to stay were he to sign.
“I don’t have it clear what decision Alioski is going to take,” Bielsa said earlier this month. “When a player resolves his contractual station with the club they operate with offers in demand, which is natural.
“In this case they are private negotiations between the club and the player. And in no way should I have an opinion. In no way should my opinion impact what’s going to happen with Alioski.
“But if Alioski continues with us I would be satisfied. But the conditions that will allow Alioski to continue with us or not, that will be decided by Alioski and the club, Leeds.”
Now, according to Karar, Alioski is ready to deliver Galatasaray a snub and will stay with Leeds after all.
The Turkish paper claims the U-turn has emerged after Alioski’s agent met with Leeds director of football Victor Orta over the weekend. And it’s claimed Leeds offered a final, improved contract offer to Alioski to convince him to stay.
Seemingly, that has done the trick. They report Alioski is ready to sign a Leeds extension and a decision could be announced this week.
Alioski joined Leeds from Lugano in 2017 and has made 170 appearances for the club, scoring 21 times.
This season, despite playing as left-back, Alioski scored two goals and provided three assists.
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Bielsa defends Alioski right to decide future
Alioski has come in for some stick from Leeds fans over his links to Galatasaray. There is serious apathy between the two clubs following the murder of two Leeds fans at their 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final in Istanbul.
Bielsa, though, has defended Alioski’s right to decide his own future.
“Any option that Alioski takes will be a legitimate one and the position of the club is natural that they will do what they can. What I can say is that if Alioski and the club decide to continue the relationship I will be in favour of this decision.
“But the way in which the agreement is obtained or not, there are many variables which are calculated. There is the club on one side and Alioski on the other. Those variables I don’t know what they are and I try not to influence someone’s decision.
“I obviously have the obligation to say if he continues if it’s ok or not.
“After it’s natural that the club judges the position they take and Alioski evaluates his personal position. This has so many looks or variables.”
READ MORE: Orta sets Leeds up for blockbuster month as he reveals transfer plan
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