'I have ambition' - Leeds United loan star Largie Ramazani responds to summer transfer question
Reports from Spain suggest Valencia want to sign the Leeds United winger permanently.
Out-on-loan Leeds United star Largie Ramazani swerved a question on his long-term future over the weekend amid reports Valencia would be open to making his move permanent.
Ramazani joined Valencia on a season-long loan in the summer, with minutes at Leeds already hard to come by in the Championship and likely harder following promotion to the Premier League. The 25-year-old struggled in Spain initially but after returning from injury and earning a first-team place earlier this year, he’s been flying.
It took until January 24 for Ramazani to net his first goal - a stoppage-time match-winning penalty against Espanyol - but he’s scored five more in 11 La Liga appearances since. The most recent was a lovely cut inside and finish to open the scoring in a 2-1 win over Girona on Saturday.
Following that win, Spanish outlet El Desmarque reported on Valencia’s desire to sign Ramazani permanently. Mestalla chiefs are believed to have already sounded out the Belgian winger to get an idea of his future plans, about which he was asked following another excellent individual performance.
“We'll do the analysis at the end of the season, and I'm going to continue like this, as I have been,” the Leeds loanee said when asked whether he’d be open to a permanent switch. “I have ambition and I'm going to work until the end of the season."
Crucially, Leeds did not insert any kind of permanent option into Ramazani’s loan, meaning the winger is due to return to West Yorkshire this summer as things stand. Should Valencia decide to pursue a permanent transfer, they would have to meet the financial demands of Elland Road chiefs, who haven’t previously indicated any desire to sell.
Leeds United’s Largie Ramazani transfer stance
Leeds took a similar stance on Mateo Joseph, who joined RCD Mallorca on loan but damaged his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this month. The young striker’s season and spell in his native Spain has now effectively ended, with no confirmation yet on next steps.
“The only way Mateo was going on loan is if the door is open for us to have him back in this building,” Leeds managing director Robbie Evans told the YEP back in September. “And so he's on a season-long loan, no buy option. And our hope is he has a phenomenal season in Mallorca and comes back.
"Same story for Largie. Largie and Mateo are both wildly talented players who need the minutes, and Largie also has no buy option, because we insisted we have the option to bring him back to the club.”
Ramazani signed a four-year contract in the summer of 2024, meaning he will return to Leeds with another two years remaining. That leaves the Whites in a strong position to decide things on their terms, with the decision to not include a buy option proving smart.
Valencia have five league games left but virtually nothing to play for, with little chance of dropping into a relegation battle and virtually no hopes of a late European push. Ramazani will hope to increase his goalscoring tally further before a decision is made on his future this summer.