Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala is not understood to be a target for Leeds United in the next transfer window.
The 29-year-old’s contract expires at Riverside Stadium in two weeks and he has been in and out of the media as a Whites target since last autumn.
However, LeedsLive understands, at no stage has director of football Victor Orta seriously pursued a reunion with a defender he shared time with on Teesside.
Reports surfaced again yesterday which suggested Ayala had refused to a small extension in order to play out the rescheduled Championship run-in, amid United interest.
The Whites will almost certainly be in the market for a central defender or two in the next transfer window as Ben White’s loan expires and Gaetano Berardi’s future remains uncertain.
Captain Liam Cooper remains, but a senior defensive partner is, as yet, not under contract for 2020/21.
Luke Ayling and Kalvin Phillips are options in the middle of defence for Marcelo Bielsa, but their performances have been stronger in their more natural roles.
