Report: Leeds United Player Seen Engaging in Talks Over Permanent Transfer with Rival Club’s Director

Leeds United are gearing up for their second Championship season starting in August, with ambitions set on securing automatic promotion after narrowly missing out in the 2023/24 campaign.

Manager Daniel Farke aims to assemble a competitive squad capable of enduring the rigorous 46-game season, though recent reports of outgoing transfers have raised concerns about squad depth.

Danish defender Rasmus Kristensen is set to return to Thorp Arch following his loan spell with Roma in the 2023/24 season, where despite being part of Denmark’s Euro 2024 squad, he did not see any playing time.

Kristensen initially joined Leeds in the summer of 2022 from Red Bull Salzburg for £10 million, signing a five-year contract that still has three years remaining.

According to reports from Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Bundesliga club Frankfurt is keen on acquiring Kristensen on a season-long loan. This interest comes on the heels of Frankfurt’s loan deal for Robin Koch from Leeds last summer, which subsequently led to a permanent Bosman transfer agreement in 2024 after Koch’s contract expired.

Interestingly, Kristensen has also entertained discussions about a potential return to Denmark with FC Midtjylland. Recently, he was spotted on Bornholm with FC Midtjylland’s director, Claus Steinlein, fueling speculation about a future move back to the club where he made his senior debut in 2016:

“If and when that happens, many of the rumors surrounding Rasmus Nissen Kristensen’s potential return to the Super League will be put to rest. In recent days, the 27-year-old right-back has been seen in the company of FC Midtjylland’s Claus Steinlein on Bornholm, and according to Tipsbladet, discussions have centered around a possible return, though it’s still early days.”

While a permanent transfer would be the preferred outcome, Frankfurt appears inclined towards a loan arrangement for Kristensen. This contrasts with Roma’s disinterest in extending his stay following the loan spell, indicating a challenging situation for the player.

Kristensen was viewed as a reliable backup option in the Championship, but there are suggestions he may aspire to more than that role.

Securing a permanent deal would be ideal for Leeds, as another loan could prove frustrating in their ongoing squad planning and ambitions.