On-loan Leeds United forward Mateo Joseph has opened up on his future with the club after enjoying a successful start to life with RCD Mallorca in La Liga.
Big things were expected of Mateo Joseph last season as he looked set to force his way into the Leeds starting line-up under Daniel Farke.
However, despite being a regular starter at the beginning of the Championship season, a lack of goals saw Joseph fall down the pecking order at Leeds, with Joel Piroe establishing himself as the club’s starting striker.
Joseph left Leeds on loan during the summer transfer window, joining La Liga side RCD Mallorca. He has enjoyed a strong start to life with the club, scoring his first goals in a 3-1 win over Sevilla.
Now, the Spain under-20 international has opened up on whether he wants to turn his loan move to Mallorca permanent when it comes to an end in the summer.
Mateo Joseph in action for Mallorca against Espanyol.
Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Leeds United loanee Mateo Joseph makes Mallorca transfer admission
Speaking to the Spanish news outlet Marca, Joseph admitted that his future was out of his hands in the summer, despite enjoying his time with the Balearic club.
Joseph came close to joining Betis before he moved to Mallorca in the summer, but Leeds’ reluctance to include an obligation to buy scuppered the deal.
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Mallorca agreed to take Joseph on those terms, meaning that any future transfer fee will need to be negotiated between the two clubs.
Asked if he wants to stay with Mallorca, Joseph said: “Yes, I’m very happy here. But well, you never know, I’d say it doesn’t really depend on me right now, but we’ll see.”
Mateo Joseph in action during Sevilla FC v RCD Mallorca - LaLiga EA Sports
Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Leeds United need to sell Mateo Joseph to raise transfer funds
Leeds manager Daniel Farke is under significant pressure following a poor run of results, in which Leeds have looked toothless in attack.
As a result, Leeds have been linked with a string of attacking options ahead of the January transfer window, including FC Midtjylland’s Franculino.
However, with quality attacking options likely to come at a high price, Leeds will need to find some PSR wiggle room to significantly invest in their forward line.
With Joseph joining the club as an academy player, his sale would give Leeds a significant return on investment. As a result, Leeds need him to perform well for Mallorca to fund their Premier League survival bid.