Leeds United deny Lewis Cook has sell-on clause in contract

A source close to negotiations which saw Cook sign a two-year deal last May told the YEP yesterday that the clause had been included in the agreement, allowing the 19-year-old to move on for a set fee if Leeds failed to win promotion this season.

But in a statement, United said: “Leeds United would like to categorically deny reports that have emerged in the local press this morning regarding a supposed release clause in the contract of Lewis Cook.

“The claim by the Yorkshire Evening Post, which the club feels was published with damaging intentions, is entirely inaccurate and unfair reporting. No release clause whatsoever exists in the contract of the player in question.”

Cook signed his new deal shortly after the end of last season, tying himself down until the summer of 2017.

The midfielder is close to the last 12 months of that contract but Leeds resisted strong approaches from Bournemouth in the January window and refused to sell him.