Leeds United transfer news: ‘Considerable concern’ emerges amid ‘excessive delay’ to Marc Roca exit
There is “considerable concern” beginning to emerge around the delays at Real Betis that has Marc Roca’s Leeds United exit on hold, Estadio Deportivo reports.
The Spanish midfielder has been in line to make a loan departure back to La Liga since the club were relegated to the Championship, just a year after arriving from Bayern Munich.
His signing, along with those of Hector Bellerin and Ayoze Perez, are ready to go with pre-agreements reportedly in place but are all waiting on the departure of William Carvalho before they can be brought in.
Estadio Deportivo reports that the Seville-based club are telling the trio of expected arrivals that the Carvalho deal will be done and to stay “calm”, but there is “tension” thanks to the “excessive delay” in the Portuguese midfielder’s possible move to Saudi Arabia.
Carvalho leaving would free up around €10million [£8.6m] on the wage bill which can then be distributed between Roca, Bellerin and Perez, but it is anticipated that this will be a long transfer window where Betis may have to wait “almost until the end” to tie up moves.
The other two former Premier League men are due to arrive on free transfers, but Roca’s move from Leeds United is set to be a loan with a permanent option included.
Backlog
Thanks to the delays that are also effecting matters back at Elland Road this perhaps isn’t too much of an issue yet, as the Whites are still yet to announce a new manager before they confirm any transfers in or out.
Daniel Farke is expected to be the man, but there appears little prospect that he would have Roca in his squad for the Championship as the midfielder was one of the first names linked to an exit after relegation.
The 26-year-old wants to recapture his best form back in the league where he has performed the strongest, so he personally may be getting edgy the longer a delay keeps his move in limbo.
It sounds like there shouldn’t ultimately be a change of plan, but with everything at Betis apparently waiting on Carvalho’s deal that will take precedence for now.
While the club reportedly hope that the three new arrivals can begin the preseason by 5 July pending the exit [El Chiringuito TV, 27 June], the latest suggestion is that there may be doubts about that timeline.
If they are forced to wait towards the end of the window it might leave Roca kicking around at Thorp Arch during the preseason, unless he is kept away to avoid injury, so it would be in all parties’ best interest for Carvalho’s move to go through sooner rather than later to clear the way.
In other Leeds United news, the 49ers are insisting the new managerial appointment has to wait for another priority.