Leeds United’s on-loan defender Maximilian Wöber set for a return to the Championship outfit this summer should the Lilywhites earn promotion back to the Premier League.
The Austria international moved to Elland Road last January for a reported £11 million, as per Sky Sports, having worked with then-Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch at RB Salzburg for a few seasons.
Unfortunately, Wöber’s arrival couldn’t help plug holes in Leeds’ sinking ship as the Yorkshire club were relegated down the Championship after just three seasons in the English top flight.
Upon joining the side nine months ago, a clause was inserted into the defender’s contract which allowed him to leave if Leeds United dropped down to the second tier. In the end, the 25-year-old earned a loan move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.
Wöber has become a fan favourite at Borussia Park and the club’s head of first-team football, Nils Schmadtke, even hinted that a permanent transfer for the centre-back could be on the cards.
“Everything in its own time”, said Schmadtke when asked by BILD whether Wöber’s stay will be extended past his loan deal.
However, according to German outlet Rheinische Post (via Caught Offside), the former Ajax defender will only sign permanently for Mönchengladbach if Leeds United fail to secure promotion back to the top tier of English football.
Wöber will be required to report back to Elland Road after his deal in Germany expires if the Lilywhites are in the Premier League for the 2024/25 campaign.
Leeds United hold the cards here if the club return to the top flight given that the board can demand any price for Wöber that they deem fair for a player of his quality.
