Leeds United not interested in Daniel Ayala, Jonathan Woodgate clarifies Middlesbrough situation

The Whites are linked with players all over the world on a daily basis and while some of the rumours are grounded in an element of truth, there are others for which there are plumes of smoke and no fire whatsoever.

One of those rumours, from which smoke continues to bellow on a frequent basis, is that they are keen on taking Middlesbrough’s central defender Daniel Ayala.

The 29-year-old ‘emerged’ as a ‘target’ ahead of the January transfer window but remained at the Riverside.

And now that his contract is due to run out on June 30, the Spaniard has once again been the subject of talk that links him with a summer move to Elland Road.

But the YEP understands otherwise.

Ayala has indeed been offered to the Whites on several occasions over the past couple of years but the interest has been one-sided and Leeds have not made him a target.

His future does not lie at Elland Road but it also appears not to lie at the Riverside.

Former Leeds defender and Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate commented yesterday on the player’s decision not to sign an extended deal to finish the remaining games.

“Dani hasn’t been a problem or hindrance or anything like that,” said Woodgate.

“We offered Dani a contract in November, October time and he didn’t want to sign it, I have no problem with that at all.

“Dani has been injured now for about six months, he trained with the team the first few days when we were social distancing and then he trained one session with the team and his ankle got sore.

“Dani said to me that he would be available to play in June but he wouldn’t play in July and that is the truth.”

“Different players make different decisions, I can’t speak for them. They have all got different decisions to make and whatever decision they make I respect that decision.”