Star player braced for quick Leeds United reunion as defender agrees to join Championship rivals

Liam Cooper is set for an emotional Leeds United reunion next weekend. The former Whites captain, released by the West Yorkshire club at the end of June, is expected to seal a return to Hull City.

The Scotland international was at the MKM Stadium today to watch his former club draw 0-0 with Millwall as their winless run was extended to three games at the start of the Championship season. Cooper has been in talks with a flurry of clubs since leaving Elland Road, but a move back to his hometown club looks like happening.

Cooper, who came through the ranks at City and made his Tigers debut aged just 16, went on to play just 11 times before joining Chesterfield on a permanent deal and then onto United where he helped the Whites secure promotion to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa.

The 32-year-old struggled to command regular first team football under Daniel Farke last term. He largely provided back up in defence as Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon formed a strong partnership at the heart of United’s rearguard in the second half of the season as the club narrowly missed out on automatic promotion.

Assuming his move goes through in the next couple of days, Cooper could line up against his former club at Elland Road next weekend. United host City a week today in their final fixture before the international break.

Cooper’s arrival could kickstart a busy final week of the window for the Tigers, with as many as six new signings expected before Friday’s 11pm deadline. Gustavo Puerta was another potential new arrival at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, with the Colombian midfielder set to sign on an initial loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen.