Leeds United defender Max Wober is set to undergo medical tests at Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach and could be unveiled by Daniel Farke’s old employers as early as Monday next week.
This summer has seen something of an exodus of Victor Orta signings at Elland Road. Rodrigo Moreno, Marc Roca, Rasmus Kristensen, Brenden Aaronson, Diego Llorente and Robin Koch all leapt overboard after Leeds crashed headfirst into an iceberg, relegated on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
In most cases, apart from perhaps Rodrigo and Koch, the reaction from many Leeds supporters was one of ‘good riddance’.
The loss of Max Wober to Borussia Monchengladbach, however, will feel a little different. This one hurts.
Max Wober is leaving Leeds United for the Bundesliga
A £10 million January signing from Red Bull Salzburg, Wober excelled in difficult circumstances in West Yorkshire; his leadership skills and his body-on-the-line approach to defending making the Austria international something of a fans’ favourite during his short-lived spell in white.
There was a feeling that, if Wober stayed put, he could have helped lay the foundations for an immediate return to the top flight, a player with Sevilla, Ajax and Red Bull Salzburg on his CV likely to find himself amongst the very best defenders in England’s second tier.
“You’ve mentioned Max Wober,” Farke told Leeds Live after the 25-year-old was absent from the pre-season clash with Monaco. “Yes, it has to do with the transfer situation.
“We will await what the outcome is over the next days.”
Deal imminent
Wober is leaving Farke’s current club for his old one.
According to Sky Germany, he will undergo a medical at Borussia Monchengladbach within the next 48 hours. Wober could even become a Gladbach player on Monday. Die Fohlen will stump up a loan fee of around £430,000.
It is not certain, at this stage, whether there will be an option-to-buy clause in his contract.
The good news, at least, is that Leeds have two young centre-halves who could benefit from Wober’s departure. Charlie Cresswell and Leo Hjelde return to Elland Road after impressive loan spells at Millwall and Rotherham United respectively.
“I’ve already had a year in the Champ,” Cresswell tells LUTV. “So I know what the league is about,”
“Hopefully, I can bring that experience to the squad and really push on this season. Me, personally, I feel fit, healthy and the squad feels fit and healthy as well. It’s a strong squad.
“There’s a lot of places up for grabs and each and every one of us will be fighting for that start come Cardiff. But individually it’s just about me doing what I can and seeing if I can make that team next Sunday.”
Cresswell was also part of the England side which claimed the U21 European Championships.
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