German magazine Kicker report that Leeds United defender Robin Koch has decided to reject moves to Manchester United and Newcastle United because he wants to be a leader at the next club he joins – and not a back-up option.
Despite being a mainstay in the Premier League’s worst defence last season, 26-year-old Koch has still attracted admirers from around Europe. Bild recently said that Newcastle and Manchester United were ‘in the mix’ for Koch.
The German is in the final year of his Leeds contract. Some rumours suggested he could leave on a free, but those have since been dismissed – instead, the possibility of leaving on loan and then signed on a free in 12 months time.
But even that has been dismissed, with Leeds looking for a permanent exit. Rudy Galetti says Leeds want a fee of £15m for Koch. The report from Kicker says Koch has turned down a move to Manchester United or Newcastle.
That is, because Koch wants to be a mainstay, a leader at his next club. He is fully aware he would be a rotational player at either English side. Kicker say he has one of two options – a move to either Frankfurt of Bayer Leverkusen.
Koch rejects Manchester United, Newcastle as he wants to be a leader
With Euro 2024 on the horizon and Koch still desperate to return to the Germany fold, he needs to be playing. A move to Manchester United or Newcastle, or even Napoli, would see him struggle to start week in, week out.
Even the lure of Champions League football would not be enough, something he would get at any of the three heavyweights linked. A return to Germany is his best bet of regular football – at Leverkusen, or at Frankfurt.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
