Key Leeds midfielder secures new four-year contract
Sunday’s stand in captain Liam Cooper and goalscorer Kalvin Phillips have also sealed fresh four year deals at the Yorkshire club. Plus, full-backs Gaetano Berardi and Tyler Denton have recently penned new three year deals.
O’Kane has made 27 appearances for the club since joining from Bournemouth last summer.
The Irishman faces plenty of competition to start in the Whites’ central midfield, but appears to be a key man in new manager Thomas Christiansen’s thinking. Fiery youngster Ronaldo Viera and the experienced Liam Bridcutt both put in strong performances in Leeds’ 4-1 victory over Port Vale on Tuesday night, while it would be difficult to drop Phillips for Saturday’s Championship clash against Preston clash following his goalscoring heroics on Sunday.
New boss Christiansen appears to have no problem making big selection calls. The Dane raised eyebrows when Vieira, 2016/17 club captain Bridcutt and Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas did not feature in his squad for their victory at the Macron.
The Saturday selection headache does not stop for Christiansen at his chosen central midfielder pair. The 44-year-old will have now have to make another big decision. He must contemplate how he can find a place for Tuesday’s hat-trick hero Samuel Saiz who Leeds fans have instantly taken to their hearts.