Leeds United have reportedly agreed the permanent sale of an Elland Road midfielder for a bargain fee despite requesting £6.75m to let him leave this summer.
The Yorkshire side are set to offload as many of Victor Orta’s loan army as possible over the next few weeks, having already waved goodbye to Robin Koch and Luis Sinisterra permanently during 2023-24.
Jack Harrison is closing in on a loan return to Everton, while Brenden Aaronson has returned to Elland Road ahead of the 2024-25 season. Diego Llorente is waiting to see if Roma will sign him permanently.
Max Wober and Rasmus Kristensen must wait to find out where their future lies with neither boasting a repeat loan clause. But for midfielder Marc Roca, he will return to La Liga side Real Betis next season.
Leeds requested small-ish fee for Marc Roca, selling on the cheap
Roca made a solid start to life at Leeds last season after joining the club from Bayern Munich for £10m. But after the injury to Tyler Adams, his midfield partner, the Spaniard’s flaws were instantly uncovered.
Unable to last 90 minutes, Roca struggled with the pace and the physicality of the Premier League. Last summer, he went on loan to Betis and back in his home country, he rediscovered his form in Spain.
Playing 37 times for Betis, he had a hand in seven goals. Betis had agreed to sign him on loan, but have now pushed for a permanent deal. Marca say Leeds requested £6.75m, less than the £10m outlay.
A bargain at that fee, but the two sides have now agreed a figure that is £2.5m less than that at just £4.25m this summer. Roca will return to Betis but not as a Leeds player, as a permanent signing.
What selling Roca for such a low price means for Leeds financially
Leeds owe £190m in player transfers, though the sales of Sinisterra and Tyler Adams will offset that as will another parachute payment. It is unclear how much of that Leeds need to pay back this summer.
But Leeds need cash to reduce that figure and every little helps. Roca’s sale means Leeds get over £4m for a player that Leeds do not deem one of their players, and his wages are also chalked off next season.
However, what it does mean is Leeds are making a loss of nearly £6m on Roca and in the eyes of Financial Fairplay, that is not good. The Whites need a big profitable sale, a Crysencio Summerville perhaps.