Leeds United could seal cut-price transfer for Premier League midfielder | OneFootball

The 30-year-old loanee has impressed at Elland Road - but Bournemouth's desired fee could prove a stumbling block

Leeds United’s summer pursuit of securing the permanent services of one of their loan stars could be boosted, with Joe Rothwell’s parent club AFC Bournemouth reportedly allowing the midfielder to leave for less than £7.5million.

Rothwell actually helped to break Leeds’ hearts last season, coming off the bench as Southampton beat United 1-0 at Wembley in the 2023/24 Championship play-off final.

But this year he has been at the heart of the league leaders’ midfield for huge swathes of their season, starting 20 times as the Whites hope to secure a return to the Premier League at the second attempt.

The 30-year-old's performances have prompted the thought of keeping Rothwell longer term at Elland Road, but it will likely require a transfer fee to prise him away from Bournemouth permanently.

Joe Rothwell proven a surprise package on loan at Leeds United

It appeared the 30-year-old had been signed on loan from Premier League AFC Bournemouth to serve as cover in midfield, but following lengthy absences for Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev, Rothwell has become somewhat of a star turn in Daniel Farke’s midfield.

An experienced Championship campaigner, Rothwell has made 29 league appearances this season, where he has shown his creative chops.

According to FotMob.com, Rothwell ranks 10th in the Championship for chances created with 47, averaging 2.3 chances created per 90 minutes.

Despite his ability being clear in the Championship, Rothwell somewhat struggled in the Premier League.

Across two seasons in the top-flight, Rothwell made 31 appearances – 16 of which came from off the bench.

Rothwell will enter the last year of his deal at the Cherries this summer, but previous reports claimed that the south coast club would still require £7.5million to allow the midfielder to leave.

However, transfer guru Graeme Bailey claims that Bournemouth are amenable to allowing Rothwell to leave for slightly less, labelling the purported fee a “ballpark” figure.

Bailey told leedsunited.news: “They are open to the idea (of selling Rothwell for around £7.5million).

“What I got back from Bournemouth, (it is around) that ballpark but possibly even less would get him.

“There is an interest there but both clubs will talk at the end of the season, nothing has happened yet.”

AFC Bournemouth looking to make healthy profit on Joe Rothwell

Bournemouth initially wanted to sign the midfielder from Blackburn in January 2022 to get over the line and secure promotion, but reportedly refused to pay Rovers more than £3.5million.

Instead, they bided their time to sign the midfielder on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, Rothwell becoming a Premier League player.

However, under three different managers Rothwell proved to be surplus to requirements, often finding himself on the bench under Scott Parker and Gary O’Neil before being shipped out on loan midway through Andoni Iraola’s first season in charge at Vitality Stadium.

Rothwell’s time at Southampton was not a particularly happy one, with the midfielder sharing at Wembley how the loan had not gone well.

That could not be in starker contrast to Rothwell’s loan spell with Leeds United, the former Manchester United academy graduate becoming a star turn under Farke.