Sheffield United are considering a move for the Leeds playmaker, who Daniel Farke is determined to keep this summer.
Having just been relegated back to the Championship, the Blades will be looking to build another squad capable of winning their third promotion in seven years.
And they seem to be looking to their Yorkshire and potential promotion rivals to do just that.
Much of the focus at Leeds this summer has been on who could be on the way, but so far only the return of on-loan Jack Harrison to Everton has been confirmed, with the window open for nearly two weeks.
Marc Roca is expected to follow soon in a permanent move to Real Betis, but nothing has been concrete as far as last season’s first team is concerned.
Sheffield United are looking at Jamie Shackleton
However, there are a handful of players who will need to make quick decisions about their futures if they are to feature on the first day of pre-season testing in Leeds.
The Whites released their retained player list earlier this month, triggering a one-year contract extension for Sam Byram, the only out-of-contract player whose situation has been clarified.
Liam Cooper, Jamie Shackleton and Cody Drameh still have contracts on the table, although Leeds do not expect the latter to sign and have only done so to be compensated when he goes elsewhere.
The other two have major decisions to make due to a lack of playing time last season, but according to the Sheffield Star, Shackleton could be leaning towards an exit.
Sheffield United are now said to be looking to capitalize on Shackleton’s indecision over a new deal at Elland Road by trying to lure him across Yorkshire to Bramall Lane.
Barring a 2022/23 loan at Millwall, Shackleton has been at Leeds for life, so leaving would be a big decision.
Shackleton should go ahead and accept the Blades deal
Shackleton has had a “fantastic” start to the season at Leeds under Farke and is keen to keep him, but at 24 he is now at the age where he needs to go and play.
His last league appearance for Leeds came in a 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town in October and he certainly cannot be content with the fringe role he currently occupies.
He struggled with injuries in the second half of the campaign and this may be due to how little action he saw in the game.
A move to Sheffield United would see him join a team capable of progressing while allowing him to play more often.