With Adam Underwood expected to welcome an influx of new signings at Leeds United, some will have to leave and Leeds have now agreed the first sale of the summer.
Leeds seem to have stepped up moves for a number of summer targets this week. Reports say the club have held talks with Villa’s Alex Moreno, Anderlecht gem Mario Stroeykens and Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo.
Talks continue to do a £12.7m-£15.2m deal for Jaka Bijol from Udinese while Leeds have also made a £22m bid for Strasbourg captain Habib Diarra. Leeds chiefs are less confident over a deal for the African.
But as players come in, others will have to leave – for two reasons. One, to maintain a healthy position in terms of PSR and two, to simply make room. Mateo Joseph looks like he will be the first player to depart.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty ImagesLeeds agree initial £8.5m fee with Real Betis for Mateo Joseph
Well, it seems like Joseph is off. Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Leeds and Betis have now agreed on an initial £8.5m for the striker, who is currently with Spain at the U21 European Championships.
“Leeds have agreed to let him leave. I am told the overall deal could be around the €10m [£8.5m] mark including add-ons. There were a few teams keen, but player made it clear he wanted Betis,” Bailey said.
“It has moved on from that point. Leeds would have been more than happy for him to fight for his place, but Joseph wanted the move back to Spain,” Bailey told LeedsUnited.News about Joseph this morning.
It comes after reports from Spain suggested Betis were trying to convince Leeds to sell Joseph for £6.75m, by including a future 20% clause. But it appears Paraag Marathe is now set to sanction a move for Joseph.
Photo by Pat Scaasi | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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How much profit will Leeds now make on Mateo Joseph?
Joseph has now been on the books at Leeds for three and a half years, joining the club in January 2022 from Espanyol. If Victor Orta deserves praise for one thing, it was his ability to identify young players.
The striker has gone on to play 73 times at senior level for Leeds, while clocking up eight goals in 11 Spain U21 caps – after playing 10 times for England’s U20 side. He has now chosen to represent Spain.
Leeds agreed a £900,000 fee for Joseph back at the beginning of 2022 and now sold for an initial £8.5m, it will see Leeds make an immediate profit of £7.6m on Joseph – boosting the club’s PSR standing.