Zulte Waregam’s CEO Eddy Cordier has told Le Soir that a deal has been agreed to bring Leeds United’s forgotten man Laurens de Bock back to Belgium during the summer transfer window.
While the left-back spot has been something of a problem position for the West Yorkshire giants throughout Marcelo Bielsa’s two-year tenure, it speaks volumes that the £1.5 million flop has still barely had a look in at Elland Road.
The last time De Bock donned that famous white shirt in early 2018, Paul Heckingbottom was still the Leeds manager and Jean-Michel Lasogga was leading the line.
Since then, while the sleeping giants have been awakened from their 15-year slumber, the 27-year-old has spent time out on loan at Oostende and Sunderland – albeit while hardly making an impression at either club.
Now, with an agreement reached with Zulte Waregam, Leeds will be hoping to finally get De Bock off their wage bill for good.
“We have been able to close a good deal with Leeds and we expect him to quickly integrate and regain his best form,” CEO Cordier says.
“With the arrival of De Bock, we have someone who knows the Belgian league through and through.”
The diminutive defender won three trophies during a previous spell in the Jupiler League at Club Brugge, winning the Belgian title in 2016 before representing the club in the Champions League.
Het Nieuwsblad claims that Zulte Waregam will sign De Bock on loan initially, though they have the option to make the move permanent should he, in Cordier’s words, ‘regain his best form’.
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