Leeds United should have regret over latest Robin Koch news: View | OneFootball

During the summer transfer window, Leeds United loaned out Robin Koch to Eintracht Frankfurt for the final year of his contract in what has proven to be an inspired decision from the defender, having been called back into the Germany squad for Euro 2024.

Koch was one of many departures from Elland Road this summer, with the ramifications of relegation from the top-flight, particularly for a club that spent big and brought in players of a certain calibre like Leeds did, very apparent.

Despite their relegation, the German international was one of few to emerge with credit given how he performed. Therefore, it was no surprise that Koch took a move away instead of fighting to get the club back into the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Plenty of them exercised loan clauses in their contracts and jumped ship across Europe. Not many Leeds fans were able to generate much sympathy for the loaned-out players that left the club after relegation who are struggling, nor muster up much praise for those that are doing well, either.

Robin Koch is one of those that can count himself as making the right decision in departing Leeds for fresh pastures following the conclusion of the 22/23 season. Dino Toppmöller's side have opted for a back three in most cases this season, with Koch at the heart of the defence. Koch has played almost every minute of Frankfurt's Bundesliga campaign to date, missing just two games with a hamstring issue and one following a suspension.

Koch returns to German national team

The centre-back has been a pivotal figure for the Bundesliga outfit this season, managing four goals and two assists from 41 matches, including two goals in the UEFA Conference League as well. That hasn't gone unnoticed, with confirmation coming on Tuesday from Fabrizio Romano that the 27-year-old has been brought into Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 competition, which will be held in his homeland:

Koch’s inclusion comes at the expense of veteran defender Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund, who has been omitted despite helping the Black and Yellows to the Champions League final this season.

Back in March, Koch claimed his decision to leave Leeds had been vindicated following a call-up back to the Germany national team. Prior to that he had been out of the national team set-up for three years, making his last appearance for Germany in a friendly against Denmark in June 2021.

But Julian Nagelsmann has brought him back into the fold after his positive campaign in the Bundesliga, with Koch saying, via Sport Bild: "[Returning to the national team] alone made the move worthwhile, you could say that.

"Even before the international break in October, he told me that my good performances had put me on the radar.

"I was scheduled for the international matches in November, but had to cancel due to injury.

"But even then, the dialogue was already very good, and the coach had sent me one or two videos."

Leeds' frustration over Robin Koch

The latest news comes as a mild frustration for Leeds, after the centre-back was signed in a deal worth a reported £13 million, arriving from German side SC Freiburg. He was then a regular presence in the side during their three-year stint in the top flight, making 73 appearances in the Premier League.

Koch initially departed for Frankfurt on a season-long loan following the club’s 19th place finish in the table, but the deal was announced as being made permanent at the end of the season back in January, with a pre-contract deal agreed to seal a permanent switch to Frankfurt on a free transfer.

After his good form, he could have been one of only a handful of loan players to have secured Leeds a reasonable pay-day, but instead they have had to see him leave for nothing, making the loan-clause in his deal an even bigger issue for the club.

Many of the players that the Whites loaned out in the summer will likely depart for smaller fees than they arrived at Elland Road for, but Koch could have been one of only a handful that saw Leeds turn a profit, given he had potential resale value from the glimpses of a good player that were seen during his Elland Road stint, and the performances this year back in Germany.

He has proven this year that he would have been a highly capable player in the second tier as well, and could have excelled had he not had that loan clause in his deal. Where others have struggled to impress out on loan, or had indifferent spells away from the West Yorkshire outfit, Koch has thrived and rightly earned himself a place in Germany's squad ahead of the European Championships.