Leeds United transfer news: Marc Roca exit now ‘confirmed’ as Elland Road exodus begins
Marc Roca’s Leeds United exit to Real Betis is now “confirmed” on a loan-to-buy deal with a permanent option, according to journalist Michael Rincon.
The Spanish midfielder was one of the first names linked with a departure from Elland Road following relegation from the Premier League, but delays in Betis shifting William Carvalho were thought to be causing “concern” about Roca and others’ arrival.
It appears those fears may now be unnecessary as the 26-year-old’s move is apparently done and dusted as what is expected to be a significant series of exits from Leeds United this summer gets under way.
Reporting on Twitter Friday (30 June) Rincon, who has over 110,000 followers, wrote: “Confirmed. Marc Roca will be a new player of Betis. Arrives on loan until June 2024 + purchase option.”
Tyler Roberts and Alfie McCalmont are confirmed exits already, but neither were a part of the Whites first team last season.
Swing and a miss
There was hope that Roca could be the kind of cultured midfielder at Elland Road that would help hold onto possession and build up attacks.
Unfortunately that never really proved to be the case as he was often forced to be a defensive terrier that didn’t really suit his game, and once Tyler Adams was injured the midfield was bypassed with worrying regularity.
Assuming he gets back to his best in La Liga then this deal will presumably be made permanent, dependent on the financial situation at Betis.
What the Whites get back for him after a £10million move from Bayern Munich last year will be interesting considering the expected windfall of transfer fees following relegation appears to be shaping up as reaching nowhere near the level it might have been originally hoped.
Roca’s move to Leeds United, assuming he doesn’t return next summer, ultimately hasn’t quite worked out, and with the club needing a reset of sorts under presumed new manager Daniel Farke the parting of ways makes sense for both sides.
There are sure to be a fair few more names following through the exit doors in the coming weeks, but it will be who comes in the opposite direction that most concerns fans now.
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