Max Wober not desperate to stay at Leeds United ahead of August 30 deadline
Graham Smyth believes Max Wober could still depart Leeds United before the 30 August transfer deadline.
While Daniel Farke expects the Austrian defender to play a role at Elland Road this season [Beren Cross], he is still being linked with a move away, with Borussia Monchengladbach interested in re-signing him [Rheinische Post].
The 26-year-old was an unused substitute in Leeds’ opening match of the new Championship campaign, but Smyth has urged Farke to start him against Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup on Wednesday 14 August.
Speaking via The Square Ball podcast on Monday (12 August), he said: “You could [give Wober a game]. It’s a smart move. But he hinted he would be staying last season. He’s just had a season in the Bundesliga, starting in the top flight in Germany.
“Now he’s sitting on the bench in the second tier in England at a club he didn’t want to be at a year ago. I think it is very unlikely that he’s desperate to stay. We’ll just have to see if a new offer comes in between now and September.
“If you think there’s a chance he could stay, throw him a bone against Middlesbrough and let him have a run-around, suggesting that he should start. But I don’t know where he gets in. You’re not taking Pascal [Struijk] out, and Firpo adds more in terms of assists in the final third.”
Max Wober to depart Leeds United before August 30?
While it appears that Farke wants Wober to stay this season, all parties are very aware that he needs to earn the trust back with the Elland Road crowd after jumping ship last summer.
The centre-back, who can also deputise at left-back, has returned to West Yorkshire after a positive campaign in the Bundesliga, where he made 27 appearances in all competitions.
However, it is unlikely that he gets as much game time for the Whites this season, with Joe Rodon and Struijk making up the back two, and Firpo offering more attacking threat at left-back.
Monchengladbach’s Director of Sport, Roland Virkus, has confirmed the club’s interest in resigning the defender, but the transfer fee looks to be a problem, with Leeds wanting between £8.5million and £10million [Kicker, 29 May].
If Farke is so keen on Wober staying with the Whites this summer, fans could expect to see him in the starting lineup against Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have made an approach for Liverpool gem Bobby Clark.
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