Connor Roberts transfer latest: Leeds United update, Archie Gray talk, Burnley contract | OneFootball

We take a look at the latest transfer news surrounding Burnley's Connor Roberts

After spending the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Leeds United, Connor Roberts has returned to parent club Burnley this summer, but his future at Turf Moor is far from decided.

The 28-year-old right-back joined the Clarets in the summer of 2021, signing a four-year deal with the club which means he's out of contract next summer, and if they want to avoid losing him on a free next year, Burnley will have to sell him in the near future.

It's all change at Turf Moor with manager Vincent Kompany leaving to take over at Bayern Munich, while the Clarets' assistant boss Craig Bellamy has recently left the club to become the new Wales boss.

New boss Scott Parker will likely want to run the role over Roberts as he's a player with vast Championship experience, but with potential interest from elsewhere, it remains to be seen if the Welsh international will be a Burnley player when the transfer window shuts at the end of August.

With that in mind, here is the latest Connor Roberts transfer news.

Leeds United return not imminent for Connor Roberts

Leeds United are not set to sign Burnley right-back Connor Roberts at this stage, according to journalist Graham Smyth, who covers the club for the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Speaking on the Inside Elland Road podcast, Smyth said: "Having spoken to a couple of people close to the club and close to the player, it doesn’t sound like anything’s imminent right now.

"Now, you have to caveat everything in the transfer window with subject to change because who knows, Scott Parker might actually decide no, he can go, but as it stands right now, there’s nothing imminent for Connor Roberts at Leeds United."

The club will likely need to sign a right-back this summer, with Archie Gray, who regularly featured there last season, recently moving to Tottenham, while Luke Ayling has completed a permanent move to Middlesbrough after spending the second half of the season on loan there.

Cody Drameh has also left Elland Road, meaning Daniel Farke's side look desperately short at right-back with less than a month to go until the Championship season gets underway.

It was reported by TEAMtalk in March that the Whites were interested in signing Roberts on a permanent basis, but as it stands, no move is imminent.

Former Leeds United midfielder tips Connor Roberts to fill right-back void

Former Leeds United midfielder David Norris has urged his former side to sign a new right-back this summer and has tipped them to sign Roberts on a permanent basis after his loan spell last season.

Norris, who played for Leeds between 2012 and 2015, told MOT Leeds News: “From what I’ve seen and the Leeds fans I’ve spoken to, a right-back is crucial and Connor Roberts might still come back, who had put in some good performances."

Despite usually being used from the bench, it's clear that fans and ex-players saw enough from the Welshman to warrant signing him on a permanent basis, and following Gray's departure, it's imperative that Farke adds a right-back to his squad in the coming weeks.

With a wealth of Championship experience, which includes a title-winning campaign on his CV, you can certainly understand the clamour to bring him to Elland Road this summer.

Burnley contract situation may force their hand this summer

As mentioned above, Roberts' contract at Turf Moor is set to expire next summer, meaning if he stays at the club, they run the risk of losing him for free.

The Clarets wouldn't be able to command a huge fee should they choose to sell the Welshman this summer, but the fee they would receive is better than losing him for nothing next year, and Burnley's hierarchy face a dilemma in the coming weeks.

With a new coaching staff taking over at Burnley this summer, it's understandable that they'd want to run the role over Roberts and see what he's capable of in pre-season, which means any potential Leeds move would have to wait.

Burnley know they'll either have to tie Roberts down with a new contract this summer or sell him to avoid seeing the player leave for free next summer. It's a real conundrum for the Clarets, and there's no doubt that Leeds will be watching on with interest.