With Leeds United likely looking to drum up funds this summer, some of these could be heading for the exit door
Largie Ramazani has had a mixed time at Valencia(Image: Antonio Pozo / PRESSIN)
With Paraag Marathe making the point that there will be sales as well as purchases this summer, eyes might be diverted to some fringe Leeds United loanees.
Leeds sent seven senior players out on loan across the season, two of which left for new teams in January. In all, only two stayed in England while two others plied their trade in Spain with another duo even playing at the same club.
With Squad Cost Ratio rules initially squeezing Leeds’ spending scope this summer, the club will need to be shrewd in buying and perhaps cut-throat in selling. Some loanees will have more interest, and a higher sale price, than others.
Below, we assess how each loan player’s season panned out and what the next steps could be for them at Leeds – be it offload or keep – this summer.
Joe Gelhardt
Joe Gelhardt celebrates the play-off win at Wembley(Image: Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock )
Loan spell rating: Very good
Gelhardt almost had the best possible season he could have done. Some 15 goals, including eight goals in 10 Championship games between October and December, saw Hull City become firm play-off contenders. He ended the season the sixth-highest scorer in the league.
A perfect campaign was denied by an ill-timed calf injury which stunted his scoring run – but that is the only blot on an otherwise tremendous season that ultimately ended with a dramatic play-off final win at Wembley.
What could happen next?
The striker is keen on a move to Hull. Other clubs could come in but Gelhardt feels settled and happy at the MKM Stadium, which will likely over-ride other realistic temptations.
Given Leeds loaned Gelhardt – initially earmarked for a sale – while Hull were under transfer restrictions, plus them now being a Premier League rival, United may feel they can get a decent return on Gelhardt, despite him only having a year left on his deal.
Largie Ramazani
Largie Ramazani in action for Valencia(Image: Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
Loan spell rating: OK
After assisting on debut for Valencia in August, Ramazani had to wait until January until his maiden goal, having meanwhile suffering a month-long muscle injury and failing to start a La Liga game.
However, he marked his first start against Levante with a goal and went on to score in his next two after also being named in the line up. It sparked a run of five goals in 10 games.
That said, just one came in his final nine league games and he dropped out of the starting XI again, beginning the last four fixtures on the bench after a run of 11 starts.
What could happen next?
Ramazani does not have a buy-out clause in his loan deal, with chiefs last August of the stance that he could still potentially play a role in Leeds’ future. If Farke sticks to a back three system this summer, the only position Ramazani can realistically play is back up to Noah Okafor as a wide 10.
Amid a back four formation, Ramazani was ultimately left out of the squad for the trip to Arsenal – but that was while Jack Harrison was at the club, and he could well ask to leave this summer following his Fiorentina loan. A lot could rest on how Farke wishes to play next season and who comes in.
Jack Harrison
Jack Harrison’s time at Fiorentina may not extend beyond this season(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Loan spell rating: OK
Having started just one Premier League game at Leeds prior to his January switch to Fiorentina, Harrison began 10 Serie A matches, mainly on the right – the opposite side to which he was used under Farke.
His best patch saw him record two assists and a goal across three matches in April, meanwhile helping the club reach the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League against Crystal Palace. He also grabbed another assist earlier in February.
What could happen next?
While Harrison has enjoyed more game time, his showings themselves have split fan opinion. The winger has a £6m buy-out clause but Fiorentina look unlikely to trigger it.
However, there is an expectation that Harrison will leave Leeds this summer, having failed to break back in under Farke. His contract until 2028 gives United a good chance to get a decent sum for the attacker.
Mateo Joseph
Mateo Joseph has injured his ACL(Image: Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Loan spell rating: Poor
Two goals and four assists for a relegated Mallorca side should not be dismissed but both of his goals came in the same match and that was back in October – albeit assists in victories over Sevilla and (for the winner versus) Real Madrid are notable.
He started 19 of his 30 games but only four ended with three points. Joseph suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April that will take a long time to recover from.
What could happen next?
Because of his injury, which could rule him out until 2027, Joseph is likely to stay at Leeds for treatment next season. Even upon a swift January return, few clubs would take a punt on a loan.
Joseph is admired by chairman Marathe, hence why a purchase clause – now an irrelevance – was not inserted into his loan deal. However, his refusal to join up for pre-season training naturally creates distance between the player and Farke, who has underlined that Leeds will provide the striker with the best support possible through his recovery.
Max Wober
Max Wober in action(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Loan spell rating: Very poor
The 28-year-old played just three games for Werder Bremen all season, having torn his hamstring ahead of the Bundesliga season. His two late-season appearances from the bench in the league means he has only played a combined 124 minutes.
What could happen next?
Werder Bremen will certainly not be triggering his option-to-buy clause. That means he returns to Leeds with another year on his contract. There are two probable options; a small-fee sale is agreed or Leeds cut their losses and agree to terminate his contract early.
Isaac Schmidt
Isaac Schmidt(Image: Fabio Deinert/Getty Images)
Loan spell rating: Poor
After scoring on debut for Werder Bremen, Schmidt failed to light the blue touch paper with just two clean sheets recorded while operating in defence and no further goal contributions. He started six games of his 19 outings, and just once between January 25 and April 8.
Schmidt had moved to Bremen to try and nail down his place in the Switzerland World Cup squad, having been told by boss Murat Yakin that regular game time would do this. That did not unfold and Schmidt has consequently been left out of the squad.
What could happen next?
Schmidt might not have been as keen to exit Leeds but for his World Cup ambitions. As it happens, it is not hard to see him operate as a back-up in the wing-back formation – but there are several questions.
Again, one is whether Farke will stick with this system. And another is how cut out he is for top level football. He looked off the pace for Leeds in pre-season. Another loan seems pointless if he is not to be brought back into the fold, despite two years being left on his deal.
Harry Gray
Harry Gray will have learnt a lot from his time at Rotherham(Image: Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Loan spell rating: Good
Gray will have learned an awful lot in his first proper spell in senior football. He started all 20 of his games under two managers after joining Rotherham United in January, with three goals and an assist to show for his efforts.
The loan was not always smooth with an injury seeing him return to Leeds for treatment amid a two-game absence and Gray was often played on the left rather than as the main striker. But he returns to Elland Road this summer a much more learned and streetwise player.
What could happen next?
Another loan seems sensible, this time at a better team and for a full season. Gray had made it clear he wishes to break into Leeds’ first team but this is not likely to happen just yet. He has only played 21 senior games in his fledgling career.
The boy has talent, that’s clear to see. The club knows this, and they are keen to manage his development carefully. He will be taken on pre-season but more experience elsewhere will set him up well for a concerted push for competitive minutes at Leeds in 2028 and beyond.