Leeds United Want To ‘Close The Deal Quickly’ As They Push For Target | OneFootball

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Leeds United ‘remain in contact’ with a club in their bid to sign a key defensive target and want to ‘close the deal quickly’.

Daniel Farke is giving priority to bringing in another centre-back in the summer transfer window to compete with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk at the back; Ethan Ampadu is another option but is regularly preferred in midfield.

Leeds’ hunt has taken them to Italy and Serie A side Udinese, where they are keen to sign Slovenian defender Jaka Bijol.

A offer from Leeds for the 26-year-old has already been turned down as the Italian side seek a higher figure from the Premier League new boys.

Leeds’ push continues though as, according to Italian journalist Eleonora Trotta, the two clubs ‘remain in contact’.

Leeds want to try to ‘close the deal quickly’, but will need to come up with a proposal which satisfies Udinese.

The Serie A outfit are looking for a package which will bring in around €25m for Bijol.

Leeds have a number of positions they want to strengthen this summer to prepare for life back in the Premier League.

The Whites will have to watch their budget closely, but are sure to have received encouragement from Bijol about joining, something which has not been the case amongst all the targets they have approached.

Udinese snapped up Bijol from Russian top flight outfit CSKA Moscow in 2022 and he quickly cemented himself at the Italian side after joining.

Getting a deal done for the centre-back now would mean he would be ready to join at the very start of pre-season, which would delight Farke.

Bijol is an experienced Slovenian international and has won over 60 caps for his country, who he also turned out for at Euro 2024.