Farke will ‘rue missed opportunity’ to solve Max Wober problem amid bombshell update
Max Wober has been a constant cause for concern for Daniel Farke at Leeds United this season.
The Austrian has spent most of the campaign on the sidelines, and when he has featured for the Whites, he has underperformed at Elland Road.
Farke has endured constant long-term injuries concerns in West Yorkshire and Wober has been the least of his concerns, with Joe Rodon emerging as a first team leader in the backline alongside Pascal Struijk.
However, the German will undoubtedly rue his nonchalant approach to the winter transfer window. He ignored a golden opportunity, which has now backfired for the Whites.
Max Wober should have been sold to RB Salzburg
Ahead of the transfer window opening in January, Farke was faced with his first important decision.
According to Austrian journalist Peter Linden (12 December), RB Salzburg were exploring a potential move for Wober to bring the defender back to the side he left for Leeds in 2023.
The Whites understandably thwarted the interest – at that stage of the season, Wober was an important member of the squad, but his versatility across the backline was seen as detrimental to their success, given their ongoing injury woes.
Nevertheless, to receive significant transfer interest in a player who has made only seven competitive appearances thus far is an achievement in itself, and it presented Farke with a golden opportunity to boost the transfer kitty.
However, as the reported interest raged on, it became abundantly clear that the Austrian Bundesliga outfit was unlikely to move for Wober after Leeds’ demands proved too costly to broker a deal.
In hindsight, the Whites should have done everything possible to find a middle ground with Salzburg and remove Wober from the books – he has consistently proven to be nothing but a liability at Elland Road.
Max Wober ruled out for months at Leeds United
On 1 October, the 27-year-old jetted back to Austria to undergo surgery on a knee injury sustained at the beginning of the season.
Although he spent the opening matches of the Championship campaign as an unused substitute, his absence was a significant blow for Farke, who also lost Ethan Ampadu and was left with only two senior options at centre-back.
Wober would not feature this term until he was granted a six-minute cameo in the 4-3 win against Swansea City (24 November), and he did manage to leave a lasting impact during his run in the first team with his unlikely goal in the 2-0 win against Derby County on 7 December.
Meanwhile, he has returned to his rightful place in the pecking order at Elland Road and, despite not featuring in the last five matches, finds himself on the treatment table once again.
Speaking to the press ahead of the Championship clash against Watford (11 February), Farke confirmed Wober will require surgery for a second time this season as his knee problems return with a vengeance.
The defender will now remain on the sidelines until the March international break – if only Leeds had taken their chance to sell the player when Salzburg came knocking.