Noel Whelan has urged Leeds United not to cash in on their crop of promising young talents after missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds were hoping for the financial boost Premier League football would provide, but a Championship playoff semi-final defeat against Derby County means they have another season in the second tier to prepare for.
The Whites sold Ronaldo Vieira last summer in an effort to bring in cash after splashing out on other signings and it is unclear what their budget will be this summer.
They also have several youngsters who may have caught the eye of Premier League clubs, not least Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton.
But Whelan has warned Leeds against selling young players over the course of the summer.
"There's some fantastic young players here and what I don't want to see is to see them sold", Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds following the Whites' playoff exit.
"We need to work around these players and build around these players because they'll be the heartbeat of the club for the next four years", he added.
Leeds are still waiting to find out if Marcelo Bielsa will continue as the club's head coach into next season.
The Argentine, who turns 64 in July, has offered to listen to what the club have to say about him remaining in the dugout at Elland Road.
