Chris Wood

Leeds United: Chris Wood, no signature and a three way tug-o-war

In a way, Chris Wood is ‘Mr Leeds United’, or at least he was last season. His goals saw to that tag’ being granted to him.

Starting off pretty slowly, Wood soon hit the straps and ended up scoring with some regularity. Across the season he netted 30 times, 27 in the Sky Bet Championship alone. This goal glut has marked him out as a striker of interest for mid-to-lower reach Premier League sides looking for some insurance.

Maybe that description is a little harsh on Burnley, saying that they are a lower Premier League side, just maybe. But they are definitely a side who will be looking for a little added goal insurance now that striker Andre Gray has left Turf Moor and gone to Watford in a near £19 million deal.

Burnley interest in Wood

The Clarets have already had a £12 million plus add-ons offer for Wood turned away by Leeds United. The Whites have also rebuffed an ‘improved offer’ from the Lancastrians with a firm ‘he’s not for sale’ message attached to it. But that might not be enough, for bookmakers Sky Bet say that Burnley are 4/7 on to snap him up with an improved third offer against 6/5 odds that he’ll remain at Elland Road.

To stave off any lingering Burnley interest, Leeds United have offered Chris Wood what some are calling a ‘bumper offer’ of a three-year extension to his current deal. And this is where the traditional tug-o-war has its two competitors: Burnley vs Leeds United’s offer of a contract.

Wood won’t sign – three-way tug-o-war

In a traditional tug-o-war, the stronger pull often wins, or the better applied technique, or a combination of both. But introduction of a third ‘team’ in a tug-o-war presents an almost farcical situation, that’s what has happened in this sorry saga. Reports have come out, via sources such as the Daily Star, that Chris Wood doesn’t intend to sign a contract at Elland Road – ubiquitous ‘sources’ confirm.

Then the ‘tuggers’ start with real gusto and the pulling seems to be in all directions, all at the same time. The introduction of a third side, the ‘no signature crew’, wrecks the integrity of a mano-a-mano competition and, in fairness, introduces an element of farce into the proceedings. The clarion call from the highest towers is one of “Chris Wood to not sign contract extension...” and this is swiftly followed by a lilting echo of “…until after the window closes and the chance to join Burnley has gone.”

Worry or not to worry?

So, with all that in mind – should Leeds United fans really be worried at the whole Chris Wood/Burnley interest/won’t sign extension saga? In a way, you have to be a bit apprehensive if you’re a Leeds fan because the lure of the Premier League is like the lure of the Dark Side in Star Wars. It is insidious and it works in very mysterious ways, its aim is to corrupt and it often does – usually the lure of money being at the centre of it.

Leeds are a big club in slumber, a club with a rich tapestry of a past, but even that cannot compete with a side like Burnley and a bigger wedge of cash. They’ve had an ‘improved offer’ turned down, it won’t stop them rippling the edges of the company cheque book in a more earnest manner and going all Bronx mafia and making ‘an offer Leeds can’t refuse.’

Tradition. Prestige. Glory. Loyalty. All that will be forgetten should Burnley really want Wood in the Premier League. Then again, it could all be liberally applied bovine faecal matter with a strong downdraft carrying the smell.

Where will Chris Wood end up Leeds fans?

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