Real Betis have reached an ‘agreement in principle’ to sign Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca.
That is according to Estadio Deportivo, who report the two clubs have shook hands in the ‘last few hours’ on a loan deal until next summer, which also includes an option-to-buy at the end of the season.
Roca has been linked with a move to Real Betis almost instantly since Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League was confirmed last month.
It is said the only thing that stands between Roca making the switch is the drafting up of contracts, and he could therefore become Leeds’ second summer exit, following Tyler Roberts’ move to Birmingham City.
Betis have been long-term admirers of Roca and appear to have finally got their man after they were beaten to the punch by Leeds last summer, when they signed him from Bayern Munich.
Agreement in principle reached for Roca’s Betis move
According to the report, Leeds were actually reluctant to include a permanent option in the deal for Roca, though Betis appear to have got their way.
It is unclear what sort of price Betis can buy him for next summer, with Leeds having paid around £10 million to sign him from Bayern 12 months ago.
Despite Leeds’ hesitancy for an option-to-buy, this feels like the best approach with Roca’s move to Elland Road just not having worked out.
The 26-year-old had made a promising start to life at Leeds but struggled to adapt to any of the managers he played under, with his performance levels dropping off as the season went on.
A move back to Spain will allow him the opportunity to rediscover his best form he showed at Espanyol a few years ago, as well as the prospect of playing European football.
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