Bayern Munich and Leeds United have reached total agreement over Marc Roca, who is set to move to Elland Road.
According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Leeds United are on the verge of signing Marc Roca. They have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich over the signing of the talented midfielder. The Premier League outfit will pay the Germans around €12 million, with an additional €5 million to be paid through bonuses.
The announcement could be made soon considering the fact that Leeds United already have an agreement in place with Marc Roca over personal terms. The Whites have readied a four-year contract for the midfielder, who will be delighted with the opportunity to ply his trade for one of the most traditionally rich clubs in England.
Formerly of Espanyol, Roca is coming on the back of two difficult years at Bayern Munich. He had joined the club in 2020, in search of a bigger breakthrough at one of the biggest clubs in world football. But the move did not pan out the way he would have hoped, with the Spaniard struggling with lack of game-time in Bavaria.
Roca fell behind the likes of Corentin Tolisso, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in the pecking order, ultimately featuring in just 15 Bundesliga matches in two years. But his misery at Allianz Arena could soon come to an end as he embarks on a new journey at Leeds United.
The Spanish international will become the club’s third signing of the new season, following the footsteps of Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen. Manager Jesse Marsch is well aware of the quality of these three players, having watched them in action closely during his time in Germany and Austria.
From a sporting perspective, Roca is likely being brought in as a direct replacement for Kalvin Phillips. The homegrown Leeds United superstar appears to be on the verge of leaving Manchester City this summer. He has already been in contact with the Premier League champions and a summer switch to Etihad could be in the offing.
Phillips’ exit could create a massive void in the Leeds United midfield. But Marsch is hopeful Roca has what it takes to replace the Englishman in the years to come.
Blessed with immense technical quality and composure in the middle of the park, the Bayern Munich star can certainly improve Leeds United’s approach play. His presence in midfield may also make the Whites become more sophisticated and composed on the ball, as opposed to Marcelo Bielsa’s direct style of play.
For a fee of just €17 million, Roca offers considerably quality to the table for Leeds. But whether or not he can settle into the fast-paced and physical nature of English football remains anyone’s guess.
