Leeds United defender Robin Koch has decided to snub interest from Newcastle and Manchester United as he only wants to return to the Bundesliga.
That’s according to Kicker, who cover the player today and say he’s choosing between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen for two key reasons.
Koch has been heavily linked with a move away from Leeds this summer following their relegation to the Championship, with a clause in his contract meaning he can go out on loan.
It means he will effectively be leaving Elland Road on a free transfer, as his contract at Leeds is set to expire next summer and he won’t be extending it.
A number of clubs are thought to be interested in his signature, including Newcastle and Manchester United, who have both been linked in Germany.
The Magpies were said to be in the mix for his signature while United were intensively considering making a move.
Neither of those clubs have pushed forwards, though, and it has since been reported that Koch will be joining either Frankfurt or Leverkusen, with both working to convince him.
Kicker picked up on that and explain that the defender is ignoring the interest from the Premier League for two key reasons.
The first of those is that he wants a leadership role at his new club, something that would not be realistic at a top club in the Premier League, where he would only be a backup. That would not be the case back in Germany.
Secondly, the Bundesliga offer him another ‘advantage’ in that he would be ‘more in the focus’ of Germany manager Hansi Flick ahead of the European Championships in Germany next year. That would not be the case as a backup at a Premier League side.
Thus, despite Newcastle and Manchester United being interesting and the ‘financial temptations’ there to join both clubs, he’s ignoring their interest, and will instead only be leaving Leeds for the Bundesliga.
