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William Jackson

Leeds United's third summer exit close as La Liga loan switch in the offing

Barring a late hitch, Marc Roca will be representing Real Betis in La Liga next season. That’s according to reports in Spain from El Desmarque, who claim the Leeds United midfielder is on the verge of completing a deal to join the Spanish club.

Roca is one of those due to report for day one of pre-season this morning as the Whites begin their preparations for the new Championship campaign following their relegation from the Premier League. However, it seems his days in West Yorkshire could be numbered, with a loan switch to his native Spain seemingly on the cards.

Roca has been linked with a number of La Liga clubs this summer, with Barcelona and Girona being mentioned, but it seems Betis have all but won the race to sign him. The report claims the deal rests on Betis’ ability to sell in order to make space for the 26-year-old, but that isn’t thought to be too much of an issue and it suggests there is even a hope that the deal could be done in time for Roca to start Betis’ pre-season training on Tuesday ahead of the club’s summer trip to Germany.

The midfielder is one of several players expected to leave the club this summer, with reports on the continent suggesting deals for the likes of Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen might not be far away, either. Roca only joined the Whites last summer, making the move from German giants Bayern Munich to help bolster United’s midfield numbers.

Read more: Leeds United report for pre-season with head coach rethink, Radrizzani query and friendlies coming

However, despite making 32 Premier League appearances, he struggled to perform on a regular basis in a Whites shirt and failed to show his best. As such, Roca is expected to be one player the club will allow to leave, despite finding themselves desperately short of midfield options going into the new season.

The Whites won’t complete any incomings until the 49ers’ Enterprises takeover has been officially given the green light by the EFL, but they have allowed players to leave already this summer with Tyler Roberts joining Birmingham City and Alfie McCalmont signing for Carlisle United.

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