Leeds Begin Talks for Serie A Defender Ahead of New Season | OneFootball

Leeds Open Talks for Udinese Defender as Promotion Push Intensifies

Leeds begin negotiations for Slovenia international

Leeds United are actively pursuing a deal for Jaka Bijol, the Slovenia international centre-back currently with Udinese, as reported by Sky Sports. Talks are under way between the Championship club and the Serie A side over a fee for the 26-year-old, who has two years remaining on his current contract.

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Bijol’s profile suits the demands of English football. Commanding in the air, composed in possession and tactically disciplined, he could offer the kind of presence Leeds have lacked at the back during their return to the Premier League. With pre-season already looming, early recruitment may prove decisive in reshaping Daniel Farke’s squad.

Leeds have prioritised experience and resilience in their summer plans, and Bijol, with over 100 Serie A appearances, fits the blueprint.

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In Jaka Bijol, Leeds are targeting a player who blends top-flight pedigree with the defensive steel required in the Premier League. At 26, he is in his prime and, crucially, has seen enough of elite European football to bring authority to a back line that has at times lacked cohesion.

Bijol has impressed in Serie A not only with his physicality but also with his positional intelligence and leadership. These are traits Leeds have missed since the departures of Liam Cooper’s consistent influence and the occasional injury concerns that disrupted the defensive unit last term.

Should the club complete the signing, it sends a message — not just about ambition, but about the seriousness of the rebuild. With Farke keen to build from the back, Bijol could be the anchor that steadies Leeds in their mission to stay in the Premier League.

This feels like a smart, targeted move that offers both immediate impact and long-term value.