Leeds United have sealed the long-term signature of another key first team player, with Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas signing a new three-year deal that keeps the winger at the club until the end of the 2019-20 season.
#LUFC are pleased to confirm that midfielder @dallas_stuart has agreed a new 3 year deal. Read more at https://t.co/9NSsjbnh3a pic.twitter.com/70v5AYx37w
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 30, 2017
Dallas had been linked with a move away from Elland Road with Norwich City reportedly interested in his services, however Leeds head coach Thomas Christiansen had thrown cold water on any move away from Elland Road for Dallas, saying that “Stuart Dallas is not for sale.” And while many players have been said to be “not for sale” only to be sold on after a few weeks, this management team seems to at least attempt to keep their word.
Dallas joined Leeds United in the summer of 2015 after spending three years at Brentford. He has scored nine goals in 90 appearances for Leeds in all competitions since joining after scoring nine goals in 75 appearances for Brentford in both the Championship and League One.
We take a look at some of @dallas_stuart's goals from his time at #LUFC pic.twitter.com/Sgz5JeTlf3
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 30, 2017
Dallas has impressed in limited duty for Leeds this season, but he is still an important first-team player, despite getting limited time in the first team so far this season. It seems that with the emergence of both Kemar Roofe and Samu Saiz, Dallas would be further down the pecking order on the wing, but he’s still been getting time and has been preferred to Hadi Sacko on the wing as well.
Ensuring the future of Stuart Dallas at the club is another in a series of moves that the new Director of Football, Victor Orta, has done so far since coming aboard last May. Getting players who have expiring deals to sign new contracts is good business, as it allows you to see who is willing to stay at the club and who wants to test the waters and prevents ugly contract disputes like Leeds have seen in the past with players such as Charlie Taylor, Lewis Cook, and Sam Byram. So good on Orta and the rest of the team at Leeds to keep another key part of the team.