49ers ‘have Rothwell transfer priority’ at Leeds United after Iraola admission
Joe Rothwell has exceeded expectations under Daniel Farke at Leeds United, with Premier League promotion secured.
The Whites signed the Englishman from Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season last summer, and it’s turned out to be an astute deal.
While Angus Kinnear will leave for Everton soon, the Englishman’s work over the last few months at the West Yorkshire outfit will be remembered.
Elland Road will witness Premier League football once again after a two-year exile, and there’ll arguably be a massive squad overhaul in the coming months.
Farke future uncertain at Leeds United
Farke has been linked with an exit from Elland Road after clinching promotion to the top flight.
It looks like the 49ers Enterprises don’t trust the German manager to be successful in the Premier League, considering his previous spells in the division with Norwich City.
The Americans would be making a mistake if they opted to replace the 48-year-old head coach at the end of the season, as the priority should be to strengthen the squad and maintain quality.
While there may be quite a few key players at the Whites who could potentially attract interest from elsewhere, there are also those like Rothwell who will certainly leave.
Rothwell should be first summer signing of 49ers
Rothwell has become a fan favourite at Elland Road, and it would be disappointing for them to see him leave in the coming months.
After helping the Whites secure promotion, the 30-year-old has done enough to convince the West Yorkshire outfit to push for a permanent transfer.
It doesn’t look like the 49ers are working on a deal for the English midfielder, though, with Andoni Iraola expecting him back at the Vitality.
The Bournemouth head coach, who has enjoyed a fruitful spell in his own right, congratulated Rothwell for winning promotion with Leeds, and Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony was also mentioned.
| Competition (2024/25) | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Championship | 36 | 0 | 4 |
Speaking to the media via Daily Echo (25 April), the Spanish head coach said: “Yes, very happy for Anthony, also I would include Rothwell, another promotion also for Joe [Rothwell], different situations because Jaidon [Anthony] is going to be a definitive move.”
It feels like Iraola anticipates the English midfielder, who’s on loan at Elland Road, to return sooner rather than later, which may indicate that the 49ers aren’t working on making the move permanent as of now.
The American owners need to reconsider their possible stance on the 30-year-old and should buy him for a reasonable price in the upcoming transfer window.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bournemouth loanee’s future be up in the air until late in the summer window if the Cherries demand too much money, but the West Yorkshire outfit must make an approach.