Leeds United may struggle to sell one player in particular this summer even if they really want to.
The 49ers have so far made light work of moving players on since the beginning of the window but there is one who could prove to be difficult.
Leeds have let go of 12 players in the wake of the play-off final defeat to Southampton in May and that figure is almost certainly set to rise before the end of August.
Archie Gray’s £40 million move to Tottenham Hotspur is undoubtedly the most high profile exit so far, while Leeds have done well to shift Marc Roca and Diego Llorente permanently, even if the fees are not particularly eye-catching.
Charlie Cresswell, Darko Gyabi and Sam Greenwood are among the younger contingent also to have left, the former of which was on a permanent basis.
Update shares on Leeds’ chances of selling Rasmus Kristensen
Leeds now feel they are in a better position to keep some of their stars such as Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto after Gray’s sale. However, that is unlikely to deter interested parties from making offers.
Glen Kamara, Illan Meslier and Georginio Rutter are just some of the other players attracting interest, but the more immediate focus may well be on the likes of Rasmus Kristensen and Max Wober.
With it nearly two weeks since their respective exits from Euro 2024, both players are due back at Thorp Arch for pre-season in the coming days.
Having spent last season on loan, neither are reported to have active loan clauses meaning there is a decision to make on whether to bring them back.
However, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds may well be left without little choice when it comes to Kristensen anyway.
It is said Leeds have received ‘little’ in the way of interest for the man they paid £10 million to sign two years ago, which could make things very difficult if he does want to leave.
Why Kristensen is the most difficult situation of the returning loanees
Of Brenden Aaronson, Wober and Kristensen, it is the latter with the least incentive for Leeds to bring back.
In terms of Aaronson, he is still very young, has room to develop and had already left before Daniel Farke could even get his foot in the door last summer. As such, it isn’t much of a surprise he has already committed his future to Elland Road.
Wober is slightly more difficult due to the circumstances surrounding his loan departure, having gone back on his word by leaving for Borussia Monchengladbach. However, he showed enough during his brief spell at Leeds that he can be a great asset in the Championship.
Kristensen, on the other hand, has had a dreadful last two years. His season-long-loan at AS Roma was a nightmare, and his one campaign at Leeds wasn’t much better either.
He also left in similar circumstances to Wober in that it had looked possible he would stay. It is really difficult to see a way back for him, but clearly he is going to be a tough spell.
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