Leeds United insider's contract knowledge puts star players at risk in summer transfer window - YEP 21/6/23
Victor Orta’s knowledge of clauses in Leeds United players’ contracts could lead to certain members of the Whites’ squad swapping Elland Road for Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this summer.
By Joe Donnohue
Orta was announced as Sevilla’s new sporting director for
the next three years on Tuesday, returning to the club where he had made his
home between 2006 and 2013.
The 44-year-old embarks on this latest chapter in his career
less than two months from his Elland Road departure, which saw him leave Leeds
by mutual consent as the team tumbled towards the Premier League trap-door. At
the heart of Orta’s decision to part ways was the call made by United board
members to sack interim head coach Javi Gracia – an appointment made by Leeds’
Spanish director of football.
Orta has remained in Leeds since his exit but will now be
expected to relocate back to Andalusia where he will lead Sevilla’s player
recruitment.
The international transfer window officially opens for business
on July 1, which leaves Orta some time to identify and pursue transfer targets
ahead of Sevilla’s 2023/24 campaign, in which they will compete in the
Champions League.
Europa League winners for a record seventh time last term,
the club struggled initially in LaLiga before appointing Jose Luis Mendilibar
who guided the team away from the relegation zone, eventually finishing in a
more respectable 12th place.
Orta’s remit will be to bolster Sevilla’s ranks with players
capable of making an impact on the domestic and continental stage.
It is not uncommon to see managers make signings they have
worked with previously, but the notion of sporting directors targeting players
they have signed once before is a little more novel. This particular tactic
could be employed by Orta at Sevilla, owing to his five-and-a-half year stint
as Leeds’ director of football.
The Spaniard was deeply embedded in transfer and contract
negotiations with United and will have been privy to undisclosed information
relating to the clauses, release fees and wages included in Leeds players’
contracts.
Any such knowledge will be deemed valuable by his new
employers, reducing the amount of time in negotiations and the number of
enquiries needing to be made when pursuing the hypothetical signing of a Leeds
player.
Unless stipulated in the terms of his Leeds exit that Orta
could not use privileged information to a new club’s advantage, this could
jeopardise United’s hopes of holding on to some of the squad’s more prized
assets.
On the other hand, Leeds fans may view Orta’s appointment at
Sevilla as an opportunity to raise transfer funds through the sale of unwanted
players. It is no secret that Orta developed and fostered close relationships
with individuals within Leeds’ first-team squad, whom supporters would gladly
see depart.
Sevilla’s decision to appoint the ex-Leeds man is one which
could benefit the Whites financially, but weaken them competitively.