Real Betis have taken pretty strong advantage of Leeds United’s failure to win promotion this summer.
The Whites‘ inability to return to the Premier League has put them in a weaker position at the negotiating table when it comes to selling players, and Betis have been all over it.
Betis have already signed two players from Leeds since the opening of the transfer window a month ago, first agreeing a cut-price permanent deal for former loanee Marc Roca.
Roca is said to have cost somewhere in the region of £4.25 million, with his former Leeds teammate Diego Llorente then joining him shortly after for just £2.7 million.
Overall, that will net Leeds a loss of over £20 million for what they paid for them, though particularly in the case of Roca, they are said to be ‘content’ with the fees agreed.
Betis eyeing move for third Leeds player Junior Firpo
Having already completed the signings of two Leeds players, it would appear they are not going to stop there either.
Despite the sale of Archie Gray to Tottenham easing Leeds’ PSR concerns, some key players from Daniel Farke’s squad are looking likely to be sold.
Glen Kamara could finalise a move to Rennes as early as today, while Wilfried Gnonto is keen on a move to Everton with talks now underway.
And according to Spanish outlet ABC, Junior Firpo could well be another on his way out of Elland Road, with Betis keen on a deal.
It is said Firpo’s name came up in conversations between the two clubs when deals for both Roca and Llorente were agreed, as they see him as an option to strengthen at left-back.
The ‘relentless‘ Firpo played the best football of his career at Betis prior to joining Barcelona in 2019, and they view him as someone who could provide competition for Romain Perraud, after his arrival from Southampton.
Firpo wages could prove stumbling block to Leeds exit
Firpo has just 12 months left to run on his deal at Leeds and it has already been reported that a new one is not on the cards at this stage.
As such, that leaves Leeds with a major decision to make. He became a key part of Farke’s side last season, making 33 appearances in all competitions, providing eight assists.
Leeds, though, will be eager to avoid losing him on a free, and speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News about Firpo’s future earlier this month, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says an exit could be on the cards, but his current wages could be a stumbling block.
He said: “I think Leeds would like him to go but as we’ve seen with a lot of players in this window, just because a team want a player to go, doesn’t mean they will.
“Firpo is on a lot of money at Leeds and will be a very hard player to move on in my opinion unless you get a Turkey or something. Not an easy player to get off the wage bill.”