Leeds United will not receive a loan fee or any up-front cash from Getafe in the loan-to-buy Samuel Saiz transfer, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim the Championship giants “will receive no immediate fee for the Spaniard” as part of the deal that takes the playmaker back to his homeland for the rest of the season.
The YEP report there is a “view to a permanent £6million transfer at the end of the season” as Marcelo Bielsa revealed at his media conference after Saturday’s win over Bolton Wanderers that Saiz has been given permission by the club to leave ahead of the January window.
OPINION
Scratch beneath the surface of this deal and it is hard to trace much of an upside for Leeds. Sure, they will get an unsettled and unhappy player off their books at a time when he and his partner are having a difficult time off the pitch (Bielsa made clear the “personal” difficulties on Saturday). But, in terms of hard, cold cash, well, there just isn’t any. Getafe are signing one of Leeds’ outstanding players for nothing for the rest of the season, and there doesn’t appear to be an obligation to make it a permanent deal, either. Should things not work out at Saiz back in Spain, it appears he could well be back at Elland Road next summer. This is an odd and slightly baffling deal, from Leeds’ perspective. Why are they not demanding a loan fee from Getafe, as well as ensuring the La Liga club pay for Saiz’s wages for the remainder of the season. That is perplexing and Leeds fans need and deserve answers.