Not just Kristensen: 49ers must sell Leeds flop who’s cost £525k-per-game

Not just Kristensen: 49ers must sell Leeds flop who’s cost £525k-per-game

After relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 season, it was to be expected that Leeds United would lose numerous players ahead of their return to the Championship.

 

Tyler Adams was the most high-profile departure, leaving to join Bournemouth in a £20m deal, ending his one-year stay at Elland Road after being unable to prevent the side dropping into the second tier.

 

After notching 28 goals for the Whites over a three-year period, Spanish forward Rodrigo also departed Yorkshire, moving to Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan after they triggered his £3m relegation clause.

 

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Such departures were inevitable, raising funds but also clearing somewhat of the wage bill, something which was vital to avoid any form of financial breach after dropping down a division.

 

One other player departed on loan during the aforementioned window, with the former first-team star now looking set for a permanent move away from the club this summer.

 

Rasmus Kristensen’s stats for Leeds United

Danish full-back Rasmus Kristensen joined Leeds in a deal worth around £10m during the summer of 2022, looking to provide added quality to the defensive department.

However, despite making 32 appearances across all competitions and registering three goals, it wasn’t enough to stop the side dropping into the Championship, with the defender leaving on loan as a result.

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He would subsequently join Roma for the entirety of last season before linking up with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on another temporary spell for the ongoing campaign.

It’s emerged in recent days that the German side are set to purchase the 27-year-old permanently at the end of the season for a fee in the region of £6.7m, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

It’s safe to say the Whites have conducted excellent business in offloading the full-back, with the 49ers needing to make sure another one of their Premier League additions follows him out of the door in the coming months.

The player who’s cost Leeds £525k per appearance

Over the years, Leeds have spent heavily to try and become an established top-flight outfit once again, but more importantly have also conducted shrewd business in offloading players.

Georginio Rutter joined during the spell in the Premier League but still managed to make a profit on him after his showings in the second tier – highlighting the hierarchy’s impressive work in the market.

However, it’s highly unlikely that boss Daniel Farke would be able to say the same with Max Wober should the defender depart at the end of the season.

 

The Austrian joined the club in a £11m deal from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2023, making 19 appearances before the Whites suffered relegation at the end of his first campaign in Yorkshire.

 

He would subsequently join Borussia Mönchengladbach on loan for the 2023/24 season before returning for the ongoing year – but has been unable to cement his place in the starting eleven.

 

The 27-year-old has made just seven appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, currently missing due to a knee injury, but could return to action in April for the business end of the season.

 

When combining his transfer fee with his earnings of £35k-per-week wage, he’s cost a total of £525k per appearance he’s made in Yorkshire – a figure way too high given his lack of impact in recent times.

 

With the prospect of a return to the Premier League on the cards, Farke will want as many funds as possible to improve the playing squad to avoid an immediate return back to the Championship.

Wober could join Kristensen out of the door in the coming months, allowing for fresh blood in the backline, potentially making room for further investment in such a department in the near future.

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