Leeds United plan to offer Peacock-Farrell new deal

Assistant coach Paul Raynor said there was “no chance” of Peacock-Farrell leaving Elland Road with the keeper close to the end of the 12-month deal he signed last summer.

Peacock-Farrell received his first professional contract at the end of the 2014-15 season and he came to prominence after the loss of two keepers before Christmas saw head coach Steve Evans promote him to the bench.

The experienced Ross Turnbull suffered a broken ankle in October and is not expected to return until next month.

Charlie Horton, the American Under-23 international, briefly acted as understudy for first-choice Marco Silvestri but quit United to return to the USA before Christmas following the death of a family member.

Peacock-Farrell has not been called upon to make his first-team debut but Evans talked him up around the turn of the year, saying: “This boy will play in the Premier League.”

Everton and Aston Villa have both been linked with moves for him when his current contract expires but Raynor said he was confident that Peacock-Farrell would be part of United’s squad next term.

Raynor said: “I’ve no doubts that Bailey will be here next year. That’s a given. We certainly won’t allow him to leave the football club. There’s no chance of that.

“He’s a very good young goalkeeper but he is a young goalkeeper. He does need to mature but the signs are there that he’s got all the tools to be a good goalkeeper in the future. We’re delighted with him.”

Peacock-Farrell is one of only two members of Evans’ regular matchday squad who are out of contract in June, alongside Italian striker Mirco Antenucci.

Silvestri has been first-choice throughout this campaign but Leeds have operated without an experienced replacement since Turnbull was injured in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Thorp Arch.

Turnbull was expected to be fit before the end of this month but he is continuing to undergo rehabilitation and will not be available for Monday’s game against Middlesbrough at Elland Road.

The former Chelsea player is part of a list of absentees which includes Chris Wood and Gaetano Berardi but Alex Mowatt proved his fitness with a run-out for Leeds’ Under-21s against Sheffield United yesterday.

United are looking for attacking inspiration after a laboured defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend but Raynor said he expected league leaders Middlesbrough to create a more open contest.

Raynor said: “It’s one we’re anticipating as a good and open game. They’re certainly not going to do what Nottingham Forest did and park 10 men behind the ball.

“They’ll try and play an open game and they’ve obviously got some very talented players. Hopefully it will be open and allow us to express ourselves.”