Koln ‘to consider’ Leeds defender Sebastiaan Bornauw amid set-piece concern | OneFootball

Leeds United’s Sebastiaan Bornauw has re-emerged as a possible summer target for Koln as the Bundesliga side plan changes at centre-back.

“We informed him [Ozkacar] that we will not be exercising the purchase option. But we did have issues with set pieces, both offensively and defensively. We need to improve in that area.” He was speaking to Bild, which has also identified Bornauw as a candidate for their defensive rebuild.

Koln finished 14th, six points clear of the drop, conceded 21 goals from set pieces and scored only eight from them, with only Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen managing fewer.

Koln want centre-backs who are strong in the air and comfortable on the ball, and the Belgian, standing six foot three, fits that profile.

Bornauw made 12 Premier League appearances for Leeds this season, five as a starter, his latest start coming in the 1-0 win over Brighton earlier this month.

It remains to be seen whether he or Leeds would approve a summer exit, with three years left on his deal.

Leeds could still make defensive changes, with Pascal Struijk into the final 12 months of his contract and expected to attract interest after an impressive return to the Premier League.

Chairman Paraag Marathe has signalled measured player trading under the new Squad Cost Ratio, replacing PSR, with arrivals and departures planned to stay within the rules while improving the squad.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk