Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has addressed the situation regarding the returning loan players.
Following Leeds‘ failure to win the play-off final against Southampton on Sunday, the Whites have been consigned to a second consecutive year of Championship football.
In the wake of relegation 12 months ago, Leeds lost eight members of the first team squad on loan due to clauses that had been inserted into their respective contracts by the previous regime.
Only Luis Sinisterra and Robin Koch have been able to seal permanent moves so far, meaning there is again uncertainty surrounding what might happen with the other six.
Jack Harrison, Marc Roca, Max Wober, Diego Llorente, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen all, at this stage, are scheduled to return to Leeds, with no move having yet been agreed.
Marathe addresses loan clause situation at Leeds
Though it is still less than 72 hours on from the defeat at Wembley, there have already been numerous reports regarding what might happen with the loanees.
It is said that Leeds’ failed attempt at promotion will allow Roca to re-join Betis on loan again, while Harrison is also in the same situation regarding a return to Everton.
That has elevated concerns over who else may be able to leave temporarily again this summer, with Leeds needing to raise some cash through player sales before June 30, to help pay off just under a third of that £190 million owed in unpaid transfer instalments.
And speaking in an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, Marathe has moved to reassure fans it won’t be the same scenario as last summer, by confirming there aren’t ‘as many of those situations’ this time around.
He said: “We have to sit down as a leadership team with Daniel to figure out which ones and how we manage all of that. I will say that fortunately, we don’t have as many of those situations as we had last year, and also we aren’t in a race against time, as we were last year at this point.
“I think we still were 12 days away from even finalising the transaction to take over the club, let alone starting our interview process for a manager so, you know, we have a lot more time to think about it.
“It was difficult last year, having to deal with this, whether it’s the loan clauses or the exits. It’s maybe not as difficult anymore because now I’ve had a year to come to terms with it.
“You know, there are certain things we inherited that we will deal with in the best way that we can, and the folks that have those perennial loan clauses – we’ll see how it transpires.
“It’s not just we’re sitting back as the passive club just hoping a player doesn’t reactivate or doesn’t engage on his loan clause. We have some strength as well and we’re looking at the chemistry of our squad.
“And it’s not just about the talents on the pitch, but it’s also about the chemistry of the squad and the mentality of the squad. And we want players down to a man who want to fight with us until the end, from the beginning to the end.
“And so that’s really important. I know it’s important to Daniel, it’s important to me, and sometimes you might sacrifice on other things to make sure you have the right mentality in the squad.”
Marathe suggests loanees will not be welcomed back at Leeds
Based on the reports that have emerged so far, it would appear as though Roca and Harrison are the only two who can leave on loan again.
There have been no suggestions that Aaronson, Wober, Kristensen or Llorente have the same clause in their contracts, meaning they could be sold.
With Marathe’s comments about the ‘chemistry of the squad’, it also implies that neither he or Daniel Farke are prepared to welcome them back due to the risk of rocking the boat.
Marathe also claimed that Leeds might have to ‘sacrifice’ on other things when it comes to what to do with the loanees, which could ultimately mean selling for a loss just to get them off the books.
Aaronson is one Leeds are expected to make a substantial £15 million hit on, due to the way his career has panned out since his £25 million move to Elland Road.