Leeds United tipped for buy-back and sell-on clauses as £750,000 Tyler Roberts transfer to Birmingham nears
Carlton Palmer has hailed the proposed sale of Tyler Roberts from Leeds United to Birmingham City as “good business” and backed the Whites to add beneficial clauses into the deal.
The Daily Mail reported on Monday (19 June) that the Welsh striker is set for a medical ahead of a move to St. Andrew’s, after the 24-year-old spent the season on loan at QPR.
And ex-Elland Road midfielder Palmer believes the deal makes sense for all parties with Roberts having few prospects at Leeds United.
The BBC pundit told Football League World: “Birmingham are nearing the conclusion of signing Leeds United centre forward Tyler Roberts.
“Tyler, who spent last season on loan at QPR, is entering into the final year of his contract. Tyler, now 24, needs to get his career going.
“I think it’s a mutually beneficial deal for both clubs. He’s nowhere near Leeds’ first team and could well shine at Birmingham City.
“A fee of £750,000 with add-ons, I think this is good business for Blues, and I’m sure there will be a sell-on or buy-back clause that Leeds will put into his contract.”
Lucrative
The up-front money isn’t anything to write home about in itself but when compared to some of the reported release fees for first-team players it is a solid bonus for a player who has struggled to establish himself at Elland Road.
Roberts was frequently preferred to the likes of Joe Gelhardt at Leeds United the season before last, much to the frustration of many supporters, but only netted once in the Premier League.
That return was off the back of a solitary top flight strike the campaign before, and while he netted three in the second tier at Loftus Road this year it clearly hasn’t been enough to convince the Whites hierarchy he has a future at the club.
Therefore it would be a surprise if a buy-back clause ultimately came into play down the line, but a sell-on bonus could be very useful.
While the likes of Charlie Cresswell and Cody Drameh are likely to be wanted at Elland Road after performing well in the Championship last season, it’s clear that the same isn’t true of Roberts.
And after a difficult time at the club that has yielded just nine goals in over 100 total appearances, and also saw him suffer a serious injury, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that a fresh start is the best outcome for him too.
In other Leeds United news, the club are under pressure to secure Daniel Farke after dramatic developments in the manager market.