Leeds United now has many loose ends to tie up with its loan players who are playing for other clubs in Europe.
The Whites had to right the ship dramatically in the summer window after relegation, when the 49ers and Daniel Farke were shocked by loan provisions in many players’ contracts.
It’s difficult to envision a way back for these players who abandoned Leeds the instant they were relegated, and few have been as convincing since their departures.
This article evaluates the potential transfer value of Leeds United’s loan players.
Max Wöber: £10.27 million.
Max Wöber’s stint at Borussia Monchengladbach appears to be going well, despite his team having the Bundesliga’s third-worst defensive record (50 conceded in 26 games).
So much so that Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg revealed this week that the German club wants to sign him permanently.
Their issue is that they are baffled by Leeds’ asking price of €10-12 million (£8.6-10.27 million), which is proving to be a sticking point as the Whites remain steadfast.
Diego Llorente: £4.27 million.
Llorente is on his second spell at Roma and has received less criticism from Leeds fans for his departure, considering that the club moved him out in January before relegation – so it’s not like he jumped ship for greener pastures; he was pushed.
Despite a change in management, with Daniele De Rossi replacing Jose Mourinho, Llorente remains a key member of the Giallorossi back line and appears to be set for a permanent deal.
The sum is rumored in Italy to be around €5 million (£4.27 million), which isn’t a brilliant sale from Leeds following his new deal in 22/23, but money in the bank for a 30-year-old with no future here is a plus.
Sam Greenwood: £1.5 million.
In August, Sam Greenwood signed a more conventional loan contract with Middlesbrough for the 23/24 season, working under Michael Carrick.
With five goals and three assists, the 22-year-old’s early form was deceptive, but he remains potentially valuable.
The Teessiders have a £1.5 million purchase option in his loan contract.
Marc Roca: £17 million?
Marc Roca was possibly the greatest of the loan players in the first part of the season, heading to Real Betis and excelling in both La Liga and Europa League.
A bout of pneumonia has hampered the Spanish midfielder’s form in 2024, but he still appears to have a future under Manuel Pellegrini beyond this season, as evidenced by his recent purchase of a house in Seville.
If not Betis, other clubs in the same division may be tempted to sign him from Leeds, and if the Whites are promoted, he could fetch around £17 million.
However, Roca has himself confirmed that if Leeds remain in the EFL next season, he has a clause to extend his loan by another year.
Jack Harrison: £20million?
Jack Harrison joined Everton and, like Greenwood, enjoyed early success, earning admirers before inconsistency took over, and that acclaim has turned into criticism.
The turmoil caused by Premier League point deductions makes it difficult to see how Everton can commit to a permanent agreement with Harrison in the same manner that Bournemouth did with Luis Sinisterra for £20 million.
Performances in the Premier League, however, should turn heads if he can recover his best, with TEAMtalk claiming the winger is valued at £20 million.
Rasmus Kristensen: Hard to say.
Rasmus Kristensen’s loan tenure at Roma was doomed from the start when they decided not to put him in their Europa League squad owing to FFP limitations – he was deemed expendable before he had even set foot in the Italian capital.
After missing out on European appearances, he has played frequently in Serie A, but he is afflicted by the same difficulties that plagued his time at Leeds – poor defensive performance and limited possession.
With a £10 million signing from Red Bull Salzburg, it’s almost tough to see how Leeds will break even in the summer.
Brenden Aaronson: Hard to say.
The most expensive of these transfers is Brenden Aaronson, who cost Leeds £25 million – a figure that grew more startling when he featured in 22/23.
He was not initially nominated to the USMNT squad for this month’s international break, but two injuries allowed him to return.
Leeds are unlikely to trick anyone into returning their money, but if he can maintain the form he demonstrated in their win against Werder Bremen, when he looked every bit the £25 million offensive midfielder, anything is possible.
However, don’t get your hopes up.
