Max Wober set for medical ahead of Leeds United exit in next 48 hours amid verdict on permanent option – Sky Sports journalist
Max Wober is now set for a medical in the next 48 hours ahead of his Leeds United loan exit to Borussia Monchengladbach, Sky Germany’s Marlon Irlbacher reports.
The Austrian centre-back only arrived in January and looked like he was set to stay for the Championship until he was suddenly absent from the squad for Saturday’s (22 July) friendly with Monaco.
He is the latest first-team Whites player to take advantage of a relegation release clause which allows him to make a loan exit, with a low fee once again attached that is hampering incoming deals.
Sky Germany’s Irlbacher reported via Twitter on Thursday afternoon (27 July): “Wöber: Deal close to completion! Rental Fee €500,000. [£428k]
“Medical in the next 48 hours. Probably no purchase option for Gladbach.”
Shame
Wober was arguably the only defender at Elland Road last season that managed to instil any sort of composure and confidence to a shaky back line, but even his influence wained after injury as relegation neared.
All the same, with Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen all having made their own loan exits already it felt encouraging that the 25-year-old seemed set to be a fixture under Daniel Farke this season [Leeds Live, 6 July].
That now won’t be the case and potentially leaves Liam Cooper and Charlie Cresswell in a master and apprentice partnership as possible centre-back starters.
The injury record of the captain and the exit speculation around the youngster doesn’t even make that a certain banker, highlighting the disappointment of Wober’s sudden departure.
Nat Phillips has been targeted from Liverpool and is surely going to be pressed for with even more urgency now, although his £10million asking price might be steep where there is a lot of other business to be done, so the young Swiss option Aurele Amenda may be preferred.
But answers are going to be required, with another senior option and possibly another back up defender needed at the position to provide adequate cover for a long season alongside the likes of Pascal Struijk and Leo Hjelde.
In other Leeds United news, at least three other named key men are now “expected” to leave before the transfer window shuts.