This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Leeds United have been on fire when it comes to sorting out players contracts over the past couple of months.
Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Leif Davis, Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich and now Pablo Hernandez have all signed new deals to remain at Elland Road for the foreseeable future.
However, despite the fact Leeds have been great at getting these deals over the line, they’ve not always gone about it the right way.
Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
For example, the length of Klich’s contract seems just a touch too long, and the same could be said about Dallas and Cooper as four-year deals for players who may be surplus to requirements if Leeds are promoted is a decision that could ultimately backfire.
However, it seems as if the Yorkshire club have got their latest contract extension spot on.
Indeed, handing a new deal to a 34-year-old can be a bit of a tricky one as footballers at that age are prone to a steep decline in the near future, but Hernandez doesn’t seem to be headed that way.
The Spaniard seems to keep getting better and better with age, registering a career-high 24 goal involvements last term and keeping him at the club until 2022 is the perfect strategy.
Of course, this will keep the Spaniard at the club until he is 37, and by that time he might be past his best, but having a player with that much technical ability at your disposal will never be a bad thing.
Hernandez will still be able to do a stellar job this season and next term, whether that be in the Premier League or the Championship, and while his legs may begin to go at the age of 36, his presence on the training ground may be just as valuable as his performances on the pitch at that point.
He’s worked under some of the greatest manager’s in football such as Unai Emery and Vicente Del Bosque, so he’s got valuable experience to pass onto the younger players at the club and that may be vital in the coming years.
