The club have agreed with the player and his representatives that it is in both parties best interests to suspend discussions about a contract extension for the 30-year-old Angolan international until the end of the season.

The removal of contract extension discussions from the agenda will allow Rui to concentrate on winning his place back in the team after recovering from injury and then making a positive contribution as the club looks towards gaining promotion to the Championship.

The club had hoped that Rui's future would have been secured by now. However, the respective differences in valuation, influenced by alleged interest from clubs already in the Championship have seen us not achieve our aim. We still remain positive that we will be able to retain the player's services when we know what division we are going to be playing in.

Rui was given his opportunity to play first team football at Leeds by Dennis Wise, having been overlooked by Kevin Blackwell, who initially signed him. He was a regular selection for Gary McAllister when he returned from the African Cup of Nations until he suffered his recent injury.