Report details what Leeds are obliged to pay in May after agreeing forward transfer
By Alex Stevens
Leeds have no choice but to sign Alfonso Pedraza for £8.5million in the summer if they are promoted to the Premier League, according to a report.
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that Pedraza’s permanent transfer to Elland Road will happen regardless of his form or success of the team are in the top flight next season.
The newspaper, citing information from Spain, report that the option in Pedraza’s six-month loan deal is “obligatory”.
It means Leeds must pay their biggest transfer fee since the £11million to prise Robbie Fowler from Liverpool in 2001 if they achieve their target of being one of the three promotion clubs in May.
The Pedraza deal is in stark contrast to many of the loan-to-buy deals agreed by Leeds, such as the one with Torino to bring Pontus Jansson to Elland Road last summer.
The Championship club had the option to sign Jansson permanently for £3.5million after 22 matches, which they announced last week they had taken up after he agreed a three-year contract that will come into effect in the summer.
It is now reported there are no caveats with regards to performances or adaptability to English football in the case of the newest arrival.
Pedraza joined Leeds from parent club Villarreal on deadline day after cutting short a season-long loan at Spanish second-tier side Lugo.
The left winger, 20, had been a huge success at Lugo, driving them to sixth place in the division with six goals and eight assists from 23 league matches.
He made his debut as a second-half substitute in Leeds’ 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield last Sunday after replacing Souleymane Doukara after 62 minutes.
In other Leeds transfer news, there has been a finale in a major deal after a £7million Leeds bid was tabled.
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