‘It is possible’ – Manager of Leeds-linked ace makes transfer admission as reports heat up
Freiburg manager Christian Streich has admitted that Robin Koch could leave the Bundesliga club this summer amid mounting interest from Leeds United.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has reported that Leeds are close to agreeing a £13million deal with Freiburg for Koch, 24, after 48 hours of positive talks between the two clubs.
It is understood that Leeds are hopeful of being able to jet Koch into England this weekend to undergo a medical for Marcelo Bielsa to finally have a new centre-back ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Freiburg boss Streich would clearly rather keep hold of Koch, who can play in the defence or as a holding midfielder.
But he admits that it’s likely that some of his players, including the Leeds target, will be on their way before the transfer window closes.
“It is possible that players will still leave the club,” said Streich, as quoted by Badische Zeitung. “If Robin stays, he can play centre-back and as a number six. Then it’s wonderful.
“If not, we definitely need something for the central midfield.”
If it’s Hay who’s reporting that Leeds are close to signing Koch then it is very, very likely that is exactly how the land lies at the moment.
While an agreement hasn’t quite been struck just yet, the fact that the club wants the player to undergo a medical in the coming days suggests they are extremely confident of being able to sign him.
But that doesn’t mean it’s too late for things to fall apart – this is Leeds, after all.
It’s as though things have been going too well this week.
Marcelo Bielsa’s new contract is yet to be made official but the suggestions are that it is pretty much a done thing while Rodrigo is also arriving in a club-record deal from Valencia – which is yet to be confirmed as complete by Leeds.
If we can end the week with deals completed for Bielsa and Rodrigo and Koch at the very least in the country to have a medical, it will be one of the most successful weeks in a summer transfer window that Leeds United have ever had.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have tabled a huge bid for another centre-back.