Koln ‘to consider’ Leeds defender Sebastiaan Bornauw this summer | OneFootball

Leeds United defender Sebastiaan Bornauw has been linked with FC Koln this summer after a limited first season at Elland Road. The Belgian joined for €six million (£5.2m) from VfL Wolfsburg, made 12 Premier League appearances with five starts, the latest in the 1-0 win over Brighton this month.

Bild reports that Koln, who finished 14th and stayed up by six points, have set plans in motion to reshape central defence after deciding against a permanent deal for loanee Cenk Ozkacar from Valencia.

Bornauw is named as a candidate who fits their brief, being six ft three in, strong in the air and comfortable on the ball. He has looked best for Leeds when defending crosses with play in front of him, and though goalless he remains a set-piece threat.

Koln conceded 21 set-piece goals in 2025/26, the most in the Bundesliga, and scored only eight at the other end, with only Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen worse. Bornauw is viewed as a possible fix in both boxes, but it is unclear whether he or Leeds would sanction an exit. The 27-year-old has three years left on his contract and has shown no obvious desire to cut it short.

Leeds could refresh their defence, with Pascal Struijk into the final 12 months of his deal after an impressive return to the Premier League. The club have signalled a strategic, disciplined approach shaped by the new Squad Cost Ratio, and player trading could follow.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk