Peter Lynch

Thu 29 June 2023 8:40, UK

The loan deal for Real Betis to sign Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca has stalled as the player waits for space to be freed up in the Betis squad, according to ABC Sevilla.

The publication noted that the likes of Ayoze Perez, Hector Bellerin and Nico Gonzalez are in the same position as Betis midfielder William Carvalho nears an exit from the club.

Roca made 36 appearances in all competitions for Leeds last season as the club were relegated to the Championship.

He is waiting for “space to be freed up” in the Real Betis squad in order to close his agreement with the Spanish club, according to ABC Sevilla (page 70, 29 June).

The publication added that Carvalho’s impending departure will “leave a relevant space so that it can be covered by the incorporations that the club already has tied or very advanced,” which is the case regarding the negotiations with Roca.

Exit close

Roca has been linked with an Elland Road exit for some time now, with Leeds supporters expecting his departure, along with many other players, ever since the club’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

He hasn’t been at the Whites for very long at all, having joined the Elland Road club last summer from German giants Bayern Munich on a four-year deal.

A return to Spain for Roca is an unsurprising move, with the player previously playing in his home nation for La Liga club Espanyol.

He may just have one eye on a place in the Spanish national team with major tournaments approaching shortly, and Roca will have a much higher chance of making the squad if he is playing in Spain’s top flight as opposed to England’s second division.

Given that it is a loan deal, the 26-year-old may yet have a future at Elland Road, but for now it seems he is keen to get as far away from West Yorkshire as possible after the club’s miserable campaign last time out.

In other Leeds United news, multiple Los Angeles investors backed out of the Whites takeover deal amid Paraag Marathe Zoom calls.