Leeds United have slapped a £9 million price tag on the head of midfielder Marc Roca, with Real Betis keen to make his loan move a permanent one, according to Football Insider.
The 26-year-old signed for the West Yorkshire club in 2022 from German giants Bayern Munich, making 32 Premier League appearances last season as the club suffered relegation to the Championship. Unwilling to make the drop to the second tier, Roca joined La Liga outfit Real Betis on a temporary deal in July and has been an ever-present for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season.
After rising through the ranks at Espanyol, the Spaniard departed the Barcelona-based club in 2020 for Munich but struggled to make an impact for the Bundesliga champions, making just 15 league appearances over the course of two seasons. The return to Spain looks to have revitalised his career, where he has hit four goals in all competitions, whilst also deputising as a centre-back at times.
As a result, Betis are hoping they can persuade the Whites to part with the player on a permanent basis and it is claimed that talks between the two clubs have already taken place. However, Leeds are hoping to recoup at least the £9 million fee they paid Bayern. Roca is contracted at Elland Road until 2026, meaning that they do hold the upper hand in negotiations.
Daniel Farke’s side are going well in the Championship and are hoping to make a swift return to the Premier League, although they suffered a blow last night when they were held to a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Rotherham United. They currently sit in third but could drop a place this afternoon if Southampton secure a win over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Writer’s View
Whereas Leeds are keen to see a return on their investment, they will be mindful that this is a player that looks destined to exit the club on a permanent basis and they will want those funds to strengthen their squad next summer.
Daniel Farke will be preparing for all eventualities, whether that be Premier League or Championship football next season. What he will not want to repeat is the scramble for players in the final moments of the previous transfer window. Negotiating Roca’s early exit would boost the coffers and give them a head start leading into the summer.
