Leeds Excludes Ramazani, Who Pushes to Return to Valencia

Largie Ramazani's future returned to the spotlight in the Valencia transfer market as Leeds United left the Belgian winger out of their traveling squad to the United States for their pre-season tour. This decision indicates that the English club is seeking an imminent departure for the player, thereby strengthening Valencia's chances of attempting to bring him back to Mestalla.

Leeds officially announced the 30-player roster on Tuesday, called up by Daniel Farke for friendly matches against Wrexham, Sunderland, and Liverpool, where Ramazani’s name was notably absent. The absence was consistent with the initial plans of the German coach for the preparation of the 2026-27 season. Alongside Ramazani, other players such as Max Wöber, Joe Gelhardt, and Jack Harrison were also left out, marking their exit doors as well.

For weeks, Leeds has been open to discussing a permanent sale of Ramazani, deeming that the player does not fit into their plans for a return to the Premier League. Valencia is aware of Ramazani's eagerness to return after he secured a position in Carlos Corberán's plans last season. He played a crucial role in Valencia's survival, contributing decisive matches and goals before fading from the starting lineup in the final weeks.

During the last season, the Belgian forward made 31 official appearances for Valencia, scoring six goals and providing two assists, with his performance peaking towards the end of the campaign. His speed, ability to navigate through defenses, and proficiency in one-on-one situations made him one of the team’s most productive offensive options, along with his effectiveness in penalties.

Valencia’s interest in Ramazani is not new. In June, the club's CEO, Ron Gourlay, had discussions to understand the conditions of a possible transfer and the price Leeds would demand to part with the player. The Scottish executive took advantage of a trip to England to directly gauge the expectations from Elland Road.

The main challenge remains financial, with reports from England suggesting that Leeds aims to recoup a significant portion of the investment made in 2024 (12 million euros including fixed and variable costs) for the player, while Valencia seeks more affordable arrangements, not ruling out a new loan with a non-obligatory purchase option.

Meanwhile, while Valencia keeps the door open for Largie Ramazani, they continue to explore other targets to strengthen their wings. According to BBC Sport journalist Sami Mokbel, Valencia is among the clubs monitoring the situation of Reiss Nelson, the 26-year-old English winger who could leave Arsenal during this transfer window. Nelson is entering the final year of his contract with Arsenal, and it is suggested that the London club is willing to facilitate his departure this summer to avoid losing him for free in 2027. Mokbel reports that Nelson has turned down several offers from the Premier League and is positively considering the prospect of continuing his career abroad. Valencia's main competitor for Nelson's signature might be Benfica, who has the advantage of newly appointed manager Marco Silva, who previously managed Nelson during his time at Fulham.