Leeds United: Hernandez could have his head turned, reveals Heckingbottom

The YEP understands that the Whites have offered the Spaniard a new two-year contract but are yet to agree terms with the 33-year-old's current deal set to expire this summer.

Hernandez has played a key role for United this campaign notching seven goals and eight assists in the Championship and is the front runner to win the club's player-of-the-year award.

Heckingbottom though said that while the signs were positive towards agreeing to extend his stay in West Yorkshire there was a possibility that Hernandez could have his head turned by offers from elsewhere.

"I've had chats with Pablo in terms of football, himself, us as a club and everything was positive," Heckingbottom told his pre-Barnsley press conference.

"Pablo is driven by football rather than money. He's driven by his heart, he likes it here and he's settled. I think things like that are positive.

"But there could be other people turning his head as well speaking in those terms with him and trying to capture his heart at other clubs. That's just the position we find ourselves in because of his contract situation.

"We'll try as hard as we can. He knows where I stand on it and that's all we can do."

Heckingbottom was also quizzed on whether Hernandez could be an integral part of United's squad going forward simply replying:"He's shown that this season."

"Since I've come here he's been one of the better players, he's taken on a bit of leadership in terms of leading by example in how he plays and trains.

"You could see that in the last game at Villa, he covers every blade of grass so in terms of him physically if we look after him properly, I'm not saying he'll play 90 minutes every game, but he can have a big impact on the pitch.

"He runs around like he's twenty-three not thirty-three, he's got tremendous quality so for me it's all positive in that respect."