Leeds United are reportedly set to lose Maximilian Wober on a free transfer - despite forking out a fee believed to be in the region of £11m for his services.
The defender, who can play at centre-back or left-back, was lured to Elland Road from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2023.
He was parachuted into a battle for Premier League survival, one the Whites would go on to lose.
Like many of his teammates, Wober departed Elland Road on loan after relegation was confirmed. He spent the 2023/24 campaign at Borussia Mönchengladbach but returned to West Yorkshire alongside Brenden Aaronson in the summer of 2024.
While Aaronson fought his way into Daniel Farke’s plans, Wober was a bit-part player in Leeds’ Championship title-winning season.
Max Wober was deemed surplus to requirements by Leeds United last summer.placeholder image
Max Wober was deemed surplus to requirements by Leeds United last summer. | Tony Johnson
Max Wober claim
The Austria international has been limited to just one appearance by persistent injury woes and according to SportsBoom, his struggles have scuppered his chances of a permanent move to the Weserstadion.
It has been claimed Leeds were hoping Wober would impress in the Bundesliga and recoup at least half of their outlay by earning a permanent contract.
However, the report has suggested summer suitors are unlikely to come forward offering fees and that he may have to head out on loan again.
Another season out on loan would take Wober to the end of his Leeds deal, which is due to expire in the summer of 2027.
Injury woes at Werder Bremen
“I didn't really notice it during the game. The next morning, however, came with a major shock - I woke up with a huge lump in my thigh. Shortly afterward, I was diagnosed with a torn muscle and a torn muscle bundle.
Max Wober joined Leeds United back in January 2023 for a fee reported to be in the region of £11m.placeholder image
Max Wober joined Leeds United back in January 2023 for a fee reported to be in the region of £11m. | Bruce Rollinson
“Since then, I've been fighting to get back as quickly as possible. Now it's all about the muscle growing back, then I can fully tackle rehab.
“Pre-season went very well for me; I felt physically fit and had no problems at all with my knee. When you then suffer another setback and hear that it's going to be at least three months off again, it's quite sobering.
“You briefly think ‘maybe it's just not meant to be anymore’. But I've since dismissed those thoughts and turned my full focus back to the future.”