Leeds United would record a loss by sanctioning £6.5m exit but Daniel Farke will be relieved

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Leeds United’s work in the transfer market since relegation has been nothing short of fabulous. The signings made during Daniel Farke’s era have been excellent, and cash has been raked in.

Players like Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe and Jayden Bogle have all been bought for seemingly small-ish fees when compared to their form. Ao Tanaka remains Leeds’ best bit of business.

Bought for £3.4m, Tanaka is easily worth six times that fee already – with Leeds unlikely to sell even if £20m offers do arrive for the Japan star. Even the sales Leeds have made have turned out to be good.

Angus Kinnear said Leeds had to sell two big players and they did in Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray. They could do little to prevent Georginio Rutter going when Brighton activated his release clause.

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Daniel Farke will be relieved if Leeds do sell Max Wober

But Leeds were forced into other sales, too. When relegated, eight players left on loan using Victor Orta’s relegation clause. Four have since left permanently, two are on loan again and two players have returned.

Robin Koch, Marc Roca, Diego Llorente and Luis Sinisterra were all sold, while Jack Harrison and Rasmus Kristensen are on loan again. Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober are back at Leeds, under manager Farke.

Reports have now emerged that Wober and Farke have a “tense” relationship and The 49ers are ready to sell Wober for just £6.5m. A whole £3.5m less than the £10m Leeds bought him for in January 2023.

Max Wober’s unconvincing Leeds stats in numbers:

• 26 appearances
• 19 starts
• 1812 minutes
• 1 goal
• 4 clean sheets
• 8 wins, 7 draws, 11 losses

Farke has not forgotten Wober jumping ship to join old side Gladbach, and given the relationship and his injuries, Wober is set to go. Farke has spoken of preferring a small group, keeping a family environment.

If Leeds do sell Wober, even if it at a loss of £3.5m from their initial outlay just over two years ago, then it is a move that suits all parties none more so than Farke – who will prefer to bring in another, instead.

Max Wober will not be the first to be sold at a loss, if he goes

A fee of £6.5m is still a decent return for a player that has been afforded just seven appearances all year. Wober has endured injury, but has also remained an unused sub on 13 occasions in the Championship.

Ultimately, Leeds won’t get full price for Wober and in order to keep the morale high, selling players like Wober who aren’t happy is a good thing, even if it is a loss in terms of Profit & Sustainability Rules.

Players Leeds have sold for a loss under Daniel Farke:

Indeed, it would not be the first time The 49ers have sold at a loss just to simply offload a player, to keep things peaceful at Elland Road. The table above shows four sold last summer all departed at a loss.

If Wober goes, it is a move that suits all parties even if it does mean Leeds lose money overall. It suits Wober as he can join a team where he is first choice, Leeds get some cash and Farke maintains morale.