A priority for Daniel Farke and Adam Underwood this summer will be the addition of a new centre-back at Elland Road, with Leeds United in need of a permanent partner next to Joe Rodon.
Since Farke’s arrival in 2023, Rodon has been one of the first names on the team sheet. Whether that was during his initial loan spell from Tottenham, or following his permanent move in the summer of 2024.
But alongside Rodon, it has not been as consistent. Pascal Struijk has been the first-choice option when fit, with the left-footed defender sidelined for considerable chunks of both seasons since Farke took over.
Max Wober has come in this season, Charlie Cresswell played there a couple of times last season and of course, Ethan Ampadu has dropped into defence. Leeds need a centre-back and Jaka Bijol is a target.
Photo by sportinfoto/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty ImagesJaka Bijol opens door to summer transfer amid new Leeds links
Udinese and Slovenia defender Bijol has been linked with a £17m move to Leeds over the weekend. It comes after another excellent season in Italy, playing 34 of 38 Serie A games and attracting interest.
Alongside Leeds, both Inter and AC Milan are interested in the 26-year-old who has clocked up a very impressive 62 caps for his country. Bijol spoke to Gianluca Di Marzio after Slovenia beat Luxembourg.
“I don’t want to talk about it now, my focus is on the match with Bosnia. They are just rumours and in Italy there are always a lot of them. It is true that I feel ready for this next step, let’s see if it starts this summer.
“In football you never know. I am grateful to Udinese who have given me so much and I am happy in Udine. But I would like to make the leap. No, I don’t [have a preference for the Premier League or Serie A].
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“Who knows, maybe at the end of the summer I will still be an Udinese player. Let’s see what happens, in football nothing is guaranteed,” Bijol said this weekend, in an interview published on Di Marzio’s website.
Photo by sportinfoto/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty ImagesWhy Mateusz Klich could play inadvertent role in Jaka Bijol deal
On paper, Bijol looks perfect. Experienced but still before his prime at 26, Bijol has played more than 250 games at club level and his record of 62 caps for his country is incredible – even captaining his country.
He might be right-footed but is more than capable with his left, often playing on the left of two centre-backs for club and country. But if Leeds do a deal for Bijol, Mateusz Klich may accidentally play a role.
TransferMarkt say Bijol is represented by SEG, the same agency that looks after Klich. Leeds have dealt with SEG in the past regarding Klich and those connections could be reborn to do a deal for Bijol.