Leeds United defender Robin Koch is the latest first-team player set to depart Elland Road this summer following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
According to Florian Plettenberg, the 26-year-old centre-back has agreed to join Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan.
Manchester United were reportedly interested in Koch amid uncertainty over the long-term futures of centre-back duo Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, but no proposal arrived from the Red Devils.
Having rejected a move to Bayer Leverkusen, Koch is now poised to join Frankfurt, with only the final details left to sort out before the deal is announced by both clubs.
Koch will return to his homeland for the first time since leaving Freiburg to join Leeds in 2020. He cost the Whites around €13 million and is now set for a temporary stint back in Germany.
Koch’s time in the Premier League has been littered with injury problems which limited him to just 77 appearances for Leeds – although he found some consistency last season, making 36 league appearances for the Whites.
He played a prominent role at the heart of a Leeds defence that recorded the worst defensive record in the Premier League after conceding 78 goals last term.
Their poor performance ultimately led to their descent to the Championship after a three-year stint in the English top flight, but Koch is not waiting around for the fight to regain promotion.
Several other players are expected to leave the Yorkshire outfit this summer. Koch’s defensive counterparts Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen have already been linked with Serie A giants AS Roma.
Dazzling Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto could also be playing Premier League football in the coming season amid interest from relegation survivors Everton.
Leeds have finally appointed a new manager, with former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke set to lead their quest for Premier League redemption.
The German tactician has tangible experience leading clubs from the lower league to the top flight, having lifted the Championship title twice with Norwich.
Leeds will hope the former Borussia Monchengladbach manager can steer them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
