Leeds United are slowly getting closer to sorting out the future of the eight players that left the club on loan using Victor Orta’s relegation loan clause, and another could be done this week.
Eight players left Elland Road after relegation, using a clause controversially inserted into their contracts by the now-Sevilla sporting director Orta. It allowed them to leave on loan if clubs paid wages in full.
Robin Koch, Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober went to Germany, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra went back to the Premier League. Rasmus Kristensen and Diego Llorente linked up at giant Italian side Roma.
Meanwhile, Marc Roca returned to Spain three years after leaving Espanyol for Bayern Munich. It comes after two difficult years at Bayern, playing just 24 games and then suffering relegation in a Leeds shirt.
Club could announce £4.25m signing of Leeds man this week
Real Betis came calling and back in his home nation, 27-year-old left-footer Roca rediscovered his best form. Other than a shaky spell towards the end of his loan after an injury, he was a key player for Betis.
After 37 games in total in which he had a hand in seven goals, Roca is now closing in on a return. He had a clause like Harrison that allowed him to rejoin Betis on loan, renewing last summer’s loan exit clause.
But Betis have struck a deal with Leeds to sign Roca permanently for £4.25m, despite Leeds initially asking for £6.75m. Now, Estadio Deportivo say a deal could be announced by Betis before the end of the week.
Five down, three to go as Leeds sort out Orta’s loan group
Harrison and Roca join Koch and Sinisterra in leaving Leeds after their loans. Koch agreed a pre-contract with Frankfurt in January given his deal at Elland Road is due to expire come the end of the month.
Sinisterra has agreed a permanent £20m move to loan side Bournemouth. Harrison meanwhile has joined Everton on loan for a second season, meaning next summer his Leeds future remains in doubt once again.
Three left then in Wober, Kristensen and Llorente. There is little to be done right now with Kristensen and Wober given both remain at Euro 2024, but there is work going on behind the scenes to sell Llorente.
Leeds want him gone and he wants to sign for Roma permanently, but the Italian side are mulling over a £4m deal. This week, it has even been claimed that Betis could try to lure Llorente back to Spain.
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