Uncertainty over Leeds United player's future grows as sporting director drops transfer hint

It would not be a big surprise to see Max Wober leave Leeds United in the January transfer window. The Austrian international has endured an injury-hit season, with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk proving to be Daniel Farke's preferred centre-back pairing.

Wober was heavily linked with a move away from Elland Road in the summer but stayed put. If Wober had been sold along with Charlie Cresswell, it would have left them light on centre-back cover.

Wober continues to provide back up to Rodon and Struijk, finally making his first Championship appearance of the 2024/25 season in last week's comfortable home win over Luton Town. It is unlikely that Wober, who joined the Whites from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2023, will be happy with his lack of game time.

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Yet it is hard to imagine United selling Wober in the New Year unless a direct replacement comes in. Wober, Rodon, Struijk and youngster James Debayo are currently Farke's centre-back options. Ethan Ampadu can also do a job at the back but the club captain remains unavailable for selection due to injury and is arguably more valuable to the side in midfield.

Borussia Mönchengladbach tried to sign Wober on a permanent deal in the summer. Wober was a first team regular during his loan spell with the Bundesliga club last term.

Reports from overseas have surfaced suggesting Wober's former club, Red Bull Salzburg, also expressed an interest in his signature in the last window. Centre-back is thought to be a position the Austrian outfit are keen to strengthen in 2025. As well as the Whites defender, Feyenoord’s Gernot Trauner is also reportedly on Salzburg's transfer radar.

New Salzburg sporting director Rouven Schröder told the Salzburger Nachrichten: “We should also think maximally in this direction. That’s part of the process. Maybe you can trigger something with a player’s departure and change the structure of the team. The same applies to new arrivals.

“The transfer time is definitely a very important factor for me in order to be able to change things. I’ve only been here since yesterday and therefore haven’t had any transfer discussions yet. Basically, I don’t think it’s wrong to have experienced players in a young team.”

When quizzed specifically on Wober, Schröder added: “I’ve only been here since yesterday and therefore haven’t had any transfer discussions yet. Basically, I don’t think it’s wrong to have experienced players in a young team."