Leeds United loanee Robin Koch hints at permanent Frankfurt deal with new admission
Robin Koch may have taken another step towards a permanent exit from Leeds United as he admitted he feels "incredibly comfortable" with Bundesliga outfit Frankfurt.
The defender moved to Germany on loan in the summer and is widely expected to reach a permanent agreement in the January transfer window as his Leeds contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
This means he will be free to negotiate a move away from Elland Road for free, and his latest comments make it seem ever more likely he will be staying at Frankfurt.
Talking to Sport1 journalist Christopher Michel, Koch shared, "I'm very satisfied. The team and the whole club welcomed me really well from the start and I quickly settled in well.
"I feel incredibly comfortable at SGE and in Frankfurt & I think you can see that me too on the pitch."
These quotes appear to have come as the latest hint that his long-term future will lay away from Elland Road, and after impressive performances so far with Frankfurt, a clear connection has emerged between the player, the club and the fans.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Leeds officials will have been aware of the possibility of a permanent exit when they agreed to loan him out for the season as part of the exit clause in his contract following their relegation from the Premier League.
Koch was one of a number of players to depart Elland Road on loan deals, but looks the most likely to make his deal permanent, although the majority of exiting Leeds players look likely to remain away from Elland Road even after their deals expire.
Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca, Jack Harrison, Diego Llorente, Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen all opted to leave on loan when the club were relegated, and if Koch reaches a deal for an exit, he could represent the first of a number of permanent departures following these loans.
In other Leeds United news, an update has emerged on another Leeds loanee.