http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/Leeds-United39s-Marques-to-get.3668595.jp
Leeds United's Marques to get new deal By Phil Hay Influential centre-back Rui Marques has been promised a new contract by Leeds United. The Angolan international will be handed a deal to keep him at Elland Road after the 12-month contract he agreed with Leeds last summer expires at the end of the season. Marques has been a revelation in the centre of Dennis Wise's defence this term, and his performances earned him a call-up from Angola for this month's African Cup of Nations in Ghana. The 30-year-old left England to begin his preparations for the tournament last week, and Leeds will be deprived of his services until the beginning of February, but the club are already planning to secure his long-term involvement at Elland Road. United manager Dennis Wise, however, has advised Marques to delay negotiations over a new contract until the summer – to allow the defender to reap the financial benefits if Leeds are promoted to the Championship in May. Wise said: "We've been very open with each other. Rui knows that he's got another contract here. But does he want to sign a new contract on League One money when there's a possibility that we'll go up, or does he want to sign a contract on Championship money? "If he wants to sit down when he comes back (from Ghana) then he can, but I told him he'd be a fool. He'd be mad to do it now because we only pay a certain amount of money. Obviously if we go up we'll pay that little bit more. "I'm just being honest with him, and he's said that he'll wait until the end of the season." Marques has no plans to leave Elland Road at the end of his current one-year deal, and both the defender and his family have settled quickly in Leeds since he was welcomed back into the fold by Wise last year. Marques made his league debut for United against Coventry City on New Year's Day 2007, and he has been ever present du ring Leeds' League One schedule this term. The defender will lose that record when United turn out in his absence against Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road tonight. His rise to favour at Elland Road is made all the more remarkable by the fact that Wise considered ending Marques' career with United just a month into his managerial reign. The centre-back, who was signed by Leeds in the summer of 2005, made just one outing for United before Wise took charge in October 2006, but he is on his way to passing his 50th club appearance before the end of this season. Wise said: "He'll get a new contract even if he gets injured because I'm very loyal to him. "I gave him a chance and I like him as a player. I don't think anyone expected him to do as well as this. He's got better and better. He knows he's getting a contract, and he enjoys it here. He's got no intentions of going anywhere." _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!! DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
