Marc Roca heads to Leeds United loan exit as Friday update emerges
Marc Roca is close to sealing a loan departure from Leeds United to Real Betis, according to Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti.
The £10million signing from Bayern Munich last summer [Sky Sports, 17 June] is one of the names expected to leave Elland Road following relegation to the Championship.
Barcelona were reportedly interested in the 26-year-old to replace long-time stalwart Sergio Busquets [Fichajes.net, 5 June], but it appears Seville-based Betis are set to land him on a temporary deal.
Reporting via Twitter Juanmarti said: “Marc Roca and Betis, getting closer to sealing his loan.”
Future?
An exit from Leeds United for Roca is no surprise but the fact that it looks like it will be a loan departure is somewhat unexpected.
Unless the Whites predict a swift return to the Premier League and have an eye on him being a part of that in the future there seems little benefit to a loan.
Getting him off the wage bill is worthwhile in the short-term, but unless Roca had a clause in his contract that cut his pay significantly and Betis are prepared to pay the entire amount it would mean Leeds are paying money for nothing next year.
While there were some positive signs from the former Espanyol man this season, there wasn’t enough to suggest he must be held onto for the future.
Next to Tyler Adams earlier in the season there were some decent performances, and a brief hint in the early days of Javi Gracia’s reign that he and Weston McKennie may be able to pick up the slack when Adams was injured.
However, that proved to be very much not the case, with the overall return on central midfield lacking all year and a big part of why relegation couldn’t be escaped.
So unless there is an obligation for a permanent deal included in a loan departure, assuming it is completed, it would seem a strange decision to not secure a fee.
In other Leeds United news, a “shock” managerial candidate has appeared in the Elland Road running “out of the blue”.