Massimo Cellino has declared war on Sam Byram and his agent claiming the player feels that Leeds are "too small for him".

A unhappy parting now looks inevitable as Massimo Cellino told Sky Sports that homegrown ace Byram, 22, has offended him by refusing to sign a new-deal and even if the player changed his kind Cellino would have reservations about keeping him.

The Whites' majority shareholder said: “He maybe thinks he deserves to be in a bigger team and a bigger club, and maybe he’s right. But when I hear that a player from Leeds, with his agent, that he thinks that Leeds is not big enough for him, that he wants something bigger, I felt really embarrassed.

“He didn’t sign the new contract and he won’t sign it anymore. He’s been offered a contract a few times, he didn’t want to sign and I am deeply offended.

“I can’t believe that we’ve fallen out with it. I am so hurt inside that if he comes asking for a contract I would prefer to sign someone else.

“There is already a list and there is already maybe something better than him.

“I need to fall in love with my players. They are like my kids and I don’t want to let them go. Byram is one of those, but we don’t get on with the agent.”

Rumours circulated during the summer that Byram had been offered a long-term deal which would see him take a pay-cut, similar to the one Luke Murphy agreed recently.

Obviously it was a commendable gesture by Murphy, however seeing as he is much closer to thirty that Byram is then maybe such a deal made more sense for the ex-Crewe midfielder than Byram.

Arsenal, Everton and Swansea are reportedly keeping tabs on the Essex-born right-sider. Cellino also claimed there had been no interest from anyone in the player but the question now is when rather than if Byram will go.

He is under contract until next June. On January 1st he is free to negotiate with whoever he wants and Leeds will effectively have just 31-days to command a transfer-fee for him. However Cellino vowed that as was the case in the summer no-one will be leaving come January.

Come June, Leeds would receive compensation-only for him because of his age.

It is a heartbreaking situation that the young lad who burst on the scene having gone on pre-season tour to make the numbers up just three-years ago seems certain to move-on.

If there is any truth in the rumours of the "pay-cut" contract that that is stupid and naive on the clubs part.

However what is clear is that Byram has been effected by the situation. Whether it be his head-turned by a possible lucrative move to the Premiership or sadness that he will leave the club he supported as a boy, he plays these days with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He seems reluctant to take defenders on and surge into the box, last Tuesday night in the defeat against Ipswich he was booked for allegedly diving (pictured). Although he is playing in a more advance role on the right-side under Uwe Rosler, he seemed to be more of an attacking threat from right-back under the Hoofball days of Neil Warnock.

It will be a sad day when he moves on but in truth it is compensated by the fact that three other far more influential academy graduates have since broken into the side. Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor and Lewis Cook are proof that Thorp Arch can still produce good players capable of shining in the Championship. Byram's departure will be a bitter-blow but deep down inside something is telling me it is time for him to move-on.

Photo: Action Images

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