00:00Now, Leeds United have certainly been very busy in this summer's transfer market so far, bringing in a whole host of new names, hoping to add depth and quality to their playing squads ahead of the start of the Premier League season in mid-August.
00:14But, crucially, they've also renewed the contracts of two of their current players in Dan James and Sam Byram.
00:22Now, firstly, Dan James, the Welsh winger for Leeds United, one of the standout players as they were promoted from the Championship last season.
00:30I think Leeds fans will certainly be very happy with him staying at Ellen Road for the foreseeable future.
00:35And, of course, Sam Byram, a full-back option, someone who supported Leeds as a boy.
00:40Now, he didn't get much of a look at times last season because of junior Firpo, but Firpo has now moved on from Leeds United.
00:46And so, Sam Byram will probably be trying to hedge his bets and make sure that he is in contention to be playing for Leeds on a more regular basis for the upcoming Premier League season.
00:56But, just how likely is that?
00:58But also, perhaps more crucially, just how important is that Leeds have indeed extended the contracts of two of their current squad?
01:06So, to find out more, let's go now to Lee Sobert of the Yorkshire Evening Post.
01:10Lee, what can you tell us about their contract extensions, just why they've been signed off, and just how important they are for the club, and indeed for the players,
01:19and why they've decided to commit their futures to Leeds United for the upcoming Premier League season?
01:24Because, of course, as we've already mentioned, Leeds have brought in a lot of new players.
01:27So, why was it important that some of the current squad also remain at the club to hopefully integrate them into the playing style under Daniel Farker?
01:35So, if we start with Dan James, just how much will he be relishing the chance to play in the Premier League for Leeds once again?
01:43Yeah, yeah, I think that's fair enough.
01:45Yeah, I think he'll be relishing it, you know, going back up with Leeds and having a sort of like another crack at it, if you like.
01:49And I think he'll do a lot better this time than he's done before.
01:52I think he's probably a better player than when he was younger.
01:54His pace hasn't gone at all, as he's still lightning fast.
01:56And it's not difficult to imagine him causing lots of problems in the Premier League.
01:59And I think, you know, even if they do go and sign another winger, which they hopefully will, I'm pretty sure that James will be a regular starter and one of the first names on the team sheet, you would think.
02:07So, yeah, that's fantastic news.
02:09It's not quite a signing from within because, obviously, you know, he was already here, wasn't he?
02:12It's not like he was on loan or something last season.
02:15But it's just good to have him here longer, you know, four-year deal.
02:18I mean, I was looking at the contracts earlier on this summer in terms of when Leeds players were out of contracts.
02:23And it sort of slipped my mind that Dan James only had like, you know, a year left on his deal.
02:26And it was a bit of a worry.
02:27I was thinking, you know, you know, need to get that done.
02:28But I think Leeds are always confident of getting that one done.
02:30And he said himself, this place feels like home.
02:33And it does, actually.
02:34I think you can sort of, you know, obviously, you forget he's come from Man United and stuff.
02:37And initially, obviously, there's always a little bit about that.
02:39But, you know, it's very much all water under the bridge now that.
02:42And he does seem very, very much at home at Leeds.
02:44He's an extremely popular player.
02:46Very, very likable lad as well.
02:47Does a lot of stuff for the club, like on and off the field as well, like the charity and stuff,
02:51the Leeds United Foundation and things like that.
02:53And just a great young ambassador, really, for the football club as well as a great player.
02:56So that's obviously fantastic news to get him in.
02:59A real big boost, as I say, in terms of a contract, a new deal extension.
03:05And obviously, Sam Byron, that always seemed to make sense, really, just one more year for him.
03:10I can't see him getting in as a sort of like first choice or anything like that.
03:14And I think he'll sort of like, you know, accept that himself.
03:16Not that he'll sort of like settle for second best or whatever.
03:19He'll obviously be pushing as hard as he possibly can in training.
03:22But, I mean, Jadon Bogle was outstanding last season at right back.
03:25So I don't think there's any way of shifting him out of right back.
03:27And obviously, Gabby Gubmansson has come in from Lille very much as, you know,
03:30a Sweden international £10 million first choice left back.
03:33But, I mean, Byron, the great thing with him is he can play right back and he can play left back.
03:37So a player that you can see being on the bench a lot of times, he can fill in in both positions.
03:40He can probably, he said before, if needs be, he can play as a centre back.
03:44Obviously, Leeds look like they're pretty well sorted on that front now.
03:46But, yeah, I mean, they're just two deals that made sense and two deals that were both very much welcomed.
03:51You know, I don't think there was anybody looking at those deals thinking, you know,
03:54is that the right thing to do?
03:55Dan James, Player of the Year, you know, in the EFL Championship Team of the Year last season.
04:00You know, quite simply, his goals and assists and also his defensive work were crucial to taking Leeds up, really.
04:06And his defensive work obviously gets overlooked a little bit sometimes.
04:09But, you know, he's always very, very keen to help out and race back.
04:12And he should be a very, very good asset for Leeds.
04:14But just, as I say, I think you just need one more winger.
04:17I think Manus Solomon going, obviously, only having been on loan is huge.
04:21Nonto's kind of got unfinished business himself as well in the Premier League.
04:25And he's still very young.
04:26So, obviously, hopefully he'll be a lot better next season.
04:28But I just think another winger on one side is you've probably got James on one side
04:31and then Player X on the other if it's someone like Pai Shao would be great.
04:35But, yeah, fantastic news to get those two on new deals.
04:40And, as I say, James in particular will hopefully really have a very, very good season.
