Leeds United's Championship rivals 'identify' Liam Cooper transfer alternative

Liam Cooper has been contacted by Leeds United's Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers over a potential free transfer move to Ewood Park. That is according to Sun journalist Alan Nixon as the defender's future remains up in the air.

Despite being offered a new deal by the Whites following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, Cooper is still considering his options after officially leaving Elland Road at the end of June. A teamTALK report suggests United offered Cooper a one-year contract but the defender is holding for a longer contract. There is no sign of Cooper reporting back to Thorp Arch following his short-lived European Championship adventure with Scotland.

Rovers are in the market for defensive reinforcements and Cooper, 32, has made over 200 appearances at Championship level. Given Cooper is an experienced campaigner and is not short of options in the summer transfer window, the Lancashire outfit are reportedly looking at potential alternatives to Cooper, including Hull City’s Sean McLoughlin. It has been suggested that the Irishman could cost £500,000 but would command lower wages than Cooper.

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McLoughlin played 26 times across all competitions last time around as City missed out on a top-six finish. He found regular game time hard to come by in the second half of the 2023/24 season, with then boss Liam Rosenior preferring Alfie Jones and Jacob Greaves as his centre-back pairing. Greaves is on the verge of leaving the MKM Stadium, with Premier League new boys Ipswich Town expected to sign the defender.