During Victor Orta’s spell in charge at Leeds United, multiple players were signed with clauses which enabled them to go out on loan if the club were relegated, and then to do the same again if they failed to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
That, obviously, hit the Whites’ bargaining powers last summer and has had a similar impact already in the current market.
One club to have benefitted is Real Betis, who were able to take Marc Roca on loan last season, and this time around have secured both the midfielder and Diego Llorente in what are being seen as bargain permanent deals.
They’re not quite finished there, according to Tuesday’s edition of ABC Sevilla.
Betis are said to have asked the conditions to loan Junior Firpo from Leeds United. The 27-year-old has an Elland Road contact until June 2025, so a loan doesn’t look beneficial at all for the Whites.
ABC Sevilla believe Junior Firpo ‘can play the card’ and move to any club he wants this summer. They believe he has a similar loan clause to that of Roca, although that may not be the case.
During talks for Roca and Llorente, it’s said Betis put Junior Firpo’s name ‘on the table’. They only want him to provide some competition to Romain Perraud at left-back, so won’t be up for paying much… either to Leeds United or the player.
Salary is the ‘biggest obstacle’ but it’s said discussions have started in that regard.
Perhaps there has been no bigger football beneficiary of Leeds United’s relegation, and then failure to return immediately, than Real Betis.
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