Leeds United have reportedly turned down the chance to sign Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala when he becomes a free agent at the end of the month, which has been celebrated by many fans of the Yorkshire club.

Ayala has made more than 200 appearances for Boro, having joined permanently in 2014, but after refusing to sign a new deal or a short-term extension, he is set to walk away as a free agent at the end of June.

In the first half of the year, there were reports linking Leeds with a move for the 29-year-old defender this summer – with some indicating they'd look to sign him whatever division they're in.

It doesn't appear that is the case as the Daily Mirror has reported that the Yorkshire club have turned down the opportunity to sign him.

The report claims that Ayala's agent approached the Whites director of football Victor Orta, who knows his countryman from his time at the Riverside, but he declined the chance to bring him to Elland Road.

Centre-back looks like a position that Leeds will have to strengthen in the summer, with Ben White set to return to Brighton when his loan finishes at the end of the season.

The Whites are understood to not be confident of landing him permanently, while Gaetano Berardi is out-of-contract at the end of the current campaign – leaving Liam Cooper as the only remaining central defender in the senior squad.

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Orta's decision to snub Ayala appears to have been well received by large parts of the Elland Road faithful, with many fans taking to Twitter to celebrate the call.

Read their reaction here: