Leeds United have reduced their asking price for one of their players as they sit at the negotiating table with a Spanish club over a possible permanent deal.
The club are trying their best to raise funds to pay off the £190m fee Leeds still owe in player transfers. The first port of call will be to offload the players that left using Victor Orta’s relegation loan clause.
Robin Koch and Luis Sinisterra have already agreed permanent moves to Frankfurt and Bournemouth. But six others remain with their futures in doubt, and one of those is left-footed midfielder Marc Roca.
Reports this week state that Roca, Leeds and Betis have agreed to another loan for the 27-year-old with the Spanish club after he impressed at the La Liga side, who qualified for the Europa Conference League.
But a deal is not yet announced because Betis and Leeds are also discussing a possible permanent move for Roca, instead of simply signing the former Bayern Munich player on a temporary basis this summer.
Leeds United reduce price for Marc Roca as Betis talks continue
Spanish outlet El Desmarque deliver the latest news on Roca’s future, and say that the two sides are discussing a permanent move for the midfielder with Betis said to be going for it in the summer window.
A deal is a possibility with Leeds needing to sell, and the report saying Leeds have reduced their asking price given the club failed to get themselves back into the Premier League after losing the play-off final.
Roca will be at Betis next season but it all depends on whether they can agree a fee with Leeds to strike a permanent deal, or if it will simply be a loan for the midfielder come the summer window.
Even if Roca doesn’t sign permanently, he might do in a year
Roca signed a four-year deal at Leeds in the summer of 2022 and that means he will enter the final 12 months of his Leeds contract in a year’s time, and that in turn will make him cheaper for Betis to sign.
So even if the midfielder does only leave Leeds on loan this summer, The Whites will be able to rake in the cash next season. Of course, Leeds would rather the cash in the coffers in the next couple of months.
What is clear, is that Roca will remain a Betis player this summer and next season. The only doubt being whether he also remains on the books at Elland Road going into the 2024-25 campaign.