Leeds United know from experience that going into the final month of the window with the futures of many players uncertain tends to cause problems.
The 2023/24 Championship season was already a few games in a year ago when the likes of Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra said their goodbyes.
The uncertainty surrounding Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville also damaged Daniel Farke’s hopes of a flying start, Leeds stumbling out of the blocks with a sluggish start that arguably cost them automatic promotion nine months on.
Now, with August just two days away, is history about to repeat itself?
Gnonto and Summerville are still Leeds players, but will they be when September rolls around? HITC understands Gnonto has admirers at Crystal Palace, while Liverpool and Tottenham like Summerville.
There has been speculation hanging over Georginio Rutter too, while the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober remain in a somewhat precarious position after spending last term out on loan.
Max Wober facing uncertain Leeds United future
Wober played Bundesliga football for Borussia Monchengladbach during 2023/24.
Farke’s old employers are no closer to signing the Austria international on a permanent basis, however. Sporting director Ronald Virkus described Leeds’ reported £15 million demands as ‘extremely high’ two months ago.
And with the Yorkshire giants reluctant to let Wober leave on loan again, Leeds and Gladbach remain poles apart.
“We are of course monitoring the market,” Virkus tells the Rheinische Post. “We cannot meet Leeds United’s demands and Leeds is not looking for a loan.
“That is why the matter is on hold for the time being.”
Gladbach are not accepting defeat just yet. Virkus insists that Wober will remain under consideration during the final month of the window, in the hope that Leeds will lower their demands as time runs down.
“We have always found good solutions,” the director adds. “And players like Max Wober sometimes come back onto the market at the very end.
“Of course, there are also late decisions.
“(I am) firmly convinced that we have a good squad, even if we do nothing more. We still have to work on the structure, we have to see where we can make adjustments and who fits best with whom.”
Daniel Farke offers defender a fresh start
An £11 million signing from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2023, Wober was one of the few players who impressed as Leeds suffered relegation from the Premier League a year ago.
Farke has also confirmed nearly a fortnight ago that the Vienna-born 26-year-old would be welcomed back into the fold should he opt to stay and fight for his place at Elland Road.
A natural left-footer, Wober could offer some useful balance alongside Joe Rodon – now a permanent member of the squad after returning from Tottenham Hotspur – in The Whites’ backline.
“First of all, we will have the guys back with Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober. This will be beneficial for us,” Farke told BBC Radio Leeds, Aaronson also returning from a spell in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin.
“Max will arrive (in late-July) and start with some testing. Hopefully, also with us in the first team on the pitch. It is important to have these lads back.”
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