Graham Smyth drops fresh Joe Rothwell twist as Leeds United transfer confirmed
Leeds United do not have an option to make Joe Rothwell’s loan deal from Bournemouth permanent, according to Graham Smyth.
Writing on his personal X account (11 July), the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist posted an image of the 29-year-old midfielder holding a Leeds shirt after his arrival at Elland Road was confirmed by the club.
BBC Sport had claimed there was an option-to-buy in the deal (Adam Pope, 11 July), however, the club have since clarified that the deal is a straight loan, as things stand.
Leeds United make transfer announcement
Midfield was certainly an area of the pitch at Elland Road that Daniel Farke needed to strengthen, and this makes a lot of sense.
Ilia Gruev, Glen Kamara and Ethan Ampadu are the current midfield options at the club after Archie Gray was sold to Tottenham earlier this month but there are question marks around them all.
Gruev has been linked to Dortmund, Ampadu spent much of the season playing in defence last campaign and Kamara is said to have agreed to personal terms with Rennes ahead of a potential transfer to Ligue 1 [Ouest-France, 3 July].
That means that alongside youngster Charlie Crew, Rothwell is now another central midfield option at the club and it makes a lot of sense to bring in a player who has experience of the division and earning promotion.
If the player lights up the team and works well under Farke then the club will surely look into doing a permanent deal next summer, much like they did with Joe Rodon, so the lack of a clause should not be a concern at all.
In other Leeds news, this Elland Road star is “one to watch” at Newcastle after a recent transfer development.
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