Leeds United exit for Max Wober now ‘done deal’ as official announcement scheduled – Sky Sports journalist
Max Wober’s exit from Leeds United is a “done deal” and is set to be made official on Monday (31 July), Florian Plettenberg reports.
The 25-year-old centre-back will join the likes of Robin Koch, Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen as first-team Whites men to leave on loan thanks to relegation release clauses, arguably leaving the biggest gap of all.
Another six-figure loan fee [around £428k] is attached but there is not thought to be a permanent option, leaving the door open to a potentially awkward reunion in a year’s time.
Sky Germany journalist Plettenberg reported via Twitter on Thursday (27 July): “Excl. News Wöber: DONE DEAL! He will join Borussia Monchengladbach.
“One-year-loan – probably without an option to buy. Loan fee around €500k. Medical in the next 48 hours.
“Announcement scheduled for Monday. Wöber; left foot; desired central back for the bosses!”
Good for them
Wober’s exit has moved relatively quickly since Daniel Farke announced that he had been left out of the squad for the Monaco friendly on Saturday (22 July) because of a “transfer situation” [via Phil Hay].
There is still very little time to replace him before the season kicks off at home to Cardiff on 6 August, and the first few weeks of the new campaign look like being a hectic combination of Championship matches and late deals in the market.
The Austrian defender leaving is undoubtedly a blow to the manager’s plans for the defence and makes a signing at the position a clear priority.
It also suggests that further exits can’t be ruled out at short notice for anyone who has the same release clause in their contract.
As Wober was reportedly prepared to stay for the new season [Leeds Live, 6 July], it would be instructive whether Monchengladbach came in with an offer he couldn’t refuse or Wober saw the state of the incoming business at this late stage and lost confidence in the promotion chances, but difficult to say.
He had been expected to be a central part of the promotion push, and the fact that he has gone so close to the season is anything but ideal.
In other Leeds United news, one of the Whites’ primary transfer targets this summer has been ignoring a contract offer from his current club amid the interest in signing him.