According to Graham Smyth, Leeds United have not ruled out the idea of Max Wober and Rasmus Kristensen returning to the club.
In a Q&A for the Yorkshire Evening Post’s website on June 14, the journalist stated, “The latest I’ve had from the club is that nothing can be ruled out just yet.”
While he hasn’t been given the impression that the 49ers and Paraag Marathe would fire either defender out of pride, despite the fact that the club “distinctly” thought both would stay a year ago, he believes a club will take Danish right-back Kristensen on loan and pay his wages, while there is only a slim chance of bringing back Austrian Wober.
The former left for Roma and the latter for Borussia Monchengladbach last summer due to relegation release conditions, but American midfielder Brenden Aaronson has already returned on reduced wages from his own loan to Union Berlin [Inside Elland Road, 13 June].
Daniel Farke has decisions to make on Leeds United loan returnees.
Given his one season in the Premier League at Elland Road, Leeds United fans are unlikely to be eager to see Kristensen return to the team.
But Daniel Farke presently has just midfielder Archie Gray, who would undoubtedly prefer to shift into his favorite position if he rejects transfer offers to stay next season, and injury-prone Sam Byram, who spent last season on the left, as right-back alternatives.
So the management may decide to give the Dane an opportunity to accomplish what Junior Firpo did: establish his worth in the Championship after floundering in the top division.
Wober, despite his sudden departure a year ago, performed significantly better overall in the Premier League and may be an asset at left-back or centre-back if he is ready to return and convinces Farke of that.
A deal with Tottenham to bring Joe Rodon back to the club is a priority, but if that proves financially unfeasible, the Whites might do worse than go to Wober.
Neither possible returnee would be particularly popular in this situation, but Farke appears to have already decided to weather the storm with Aaronson, and re-integrated Willy Gnonto last season with some success, so he appears to be willing to go that way.
