Byram wants to stay at Leeds: McDermott

Byram, who was the star performer for Leeds in the last season, has made 53 appearances in all the major competitions. He won three awards at the end of the season, including the club’s player of the year award.

McDermott has said that Byram would help the Ellan Road Club to earn a big money. “He’s got some real composure and he’s a great lad. He has the mentality to go as far as he wants to go,” McDermott told talkSPORT.

“He’s not just a talent, he works his socks off and wants to get better. He needs to be playing games for us and developing his career with us, in my opinion.

“It’s happened in the past when young lads, who are 18 and 19 and 20, and they have gone too early to so called big clubs and never get an opportunity.

“He played 44 games in the league for us last year, so I think the more games and experience he can get at our level and a big club like we are, then I think it the better it is for us.

“His ultimate ambition to be a Premier League player with Leeds United because Leeds United going back a long, long time, have been a successful Premier League side. That would be his ultimate ambition.”

He also said that Leeds is still having financial problems as they have to sell the players during off-season.

“We’re in a situation at the moment where we have to wheel and deal a bit really. That’s where we’re at,” he added.

“We are wheeling and dealing and doing the best we possibly can to get in the players we need. One or two go out the door, that could happen as well.”