Leeds United are closing in on making their first permanent sale of the transfer window.
The Whites are expected to sell a number of players this summer and it would appear the first one is about to be rubber stamped five days into the window.
Paraag Marathe made it clear pretty swiftly after Leeds’ failure to win promotion that some ‘player trading’ would have to take place, as they look to remain compliant with PSR.
Crysencio Summerville is expected to be Leeds’ most high profile sale, though they are also set to benefit from the permanent exits of a handful of returning loanees.
Marathe insisted the club are in a better position when it comes to dealing with their futures this summer, and have already agreed to reintegrate Brenden Aaronson back into the fold.
Major update emerges on Marc Roca’s Leeds future
With a decision on Aaronson made, that leaves just Max Wober, Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Jack Harrison and Marc Roca with futures to clarify.
None of Wober, Kristensen or Llorente have loan clauses in their contracts this summer and so after the decision to bring Aaronson back, nothing can be ruled out regarding whether they could stay. That said, the latter does look like he will go back to AS Roma.
Harrison and Roca, meanwhile, are two players who are believed to have the option to go on loan again, but according to Spanish journalist Gonzalo Tortosa, there is some good news on the latter.
He wrote on X earlier today that Real Betis are now actually close to reaching an agreement with Leeds over a permanent deal for the midfielder.
It is said that a contract until 2028 has already been agreed between Roca and Betis, and now all that is left to do is finalise an agreement over a fee.
Roca was described as ‘sensational‘ by the Spanish press for some of his performances last season and so while the option was there to go on loan again, Betis are instead keen to sign him up full-time.
Roca sale is good news for Leeds
Though Roca is unlikely to generate much profit when it comes to Leeds’ compliance with PSR, it is good business to sell him now.
Roca has a contract until 2026 at Elland Road and so another season out on loan would’ve only seen his value come down in 12 months’ time, regardless of how he performs.
Leeds paid around £10 million to sign him from Bayern Munich two years ago and hopefully they are able to recoup all of that.
His surprise permanent sale is only going to help Leeds when it comes to potentially keeping key players from their current first team squad.