Marques broke into the first-team this season under ex-boss Dennis Wise (Getty)

Leeds United have suspended contract negotiations with defender Rui Marques, whose deal expires in the summer.

The 30-year-old's representatives have agreed with the club that discussions over a contract extension should now happen at the end of the season.

Both parties hope the delay will allow Marques to concentrate on winning back his first-team place after injury.

Marques played for Angola in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and has been a Leeds regular under Gary McAllister.

A statement on the Leeds United website said: "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 forward to 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 an 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."