With his contract expiring in the summer and Ayling – along with Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas – not likely to get a new Leeds deal, it is expected that his Leeds spell is over. He may join Boro permanently.

It is the second right-back to leave Leeds this month, with Djed Spence’s loan cancelled. He has gone back to Tottenham, and is set for a loan to Genoa in Serie A. Daniel Farke commented on Ayling’s exit.

He says that the £500,000 signing, who has played nearly 300 times in seven and a half years for the Whites, asked to leave. Farke also explains how he wanted to keep Ayling – as per the club’s YouTube.

“A special situation. Selfishly, it is not like my numbers here are too big. You want to keep a player like Luke – because of his quality, but also because of who he is. After the cup game, he came to see us.

“He asked if we would allow a move. When a player with a CV like his, for this club, you have to listen. He’s done so much for the club, he’s given so much back. You have to keep in mind his situation.

“He wanted to get more minutes because the fire is still burning. We said we wanted to keep him, but because he is so professional and so loyal, he deserved to choose when you want to go,” Farke said.

It was the right move for Ayling and his career, taking the heart and romance out of it. Of course, having Ayling in and around the Leeds squad – even if he is not playing – would be brilliant. But that’s not reality.

Reality is that Ayling is still a football player and it would be silly to think that Ayling would be happy as a Leeds back-up player. He is a quality option that could still thrive at a big Championship side, like Boro.

A brilliant move for Ayling, and the right move for Leeds to let him go. Well managed by Farke, allowing him to leave rather than putting his wants and desires first. Still, incredibly sad to see Ayling exit Leeds.