Leeds United have ramped up their intensity in the transfer window over the last few days. First came the signing of Lukas Nmecha and now, there is every chance Luka Bijol could be announced.
The addition of Nmecha came completely out of the blue. Graham Smyth reported the news just a few hours before Leeds confirmed a free transfer for the Germany striker from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
Meanwhile, talks continued for Luka Bijol. The Slovenia defender had said yes to Leeds prior to yesterday but it appears Leeds now have an agreement with Udinese to sign the giant 26-year-old for £18.75m.
Fabrizio Romano says only a medical is left to complete as Bijol looks set to sign for Leeds. The Whites are pressing ahead and now, Adam Underwood has tabled an £8.5m bid to sign a title-winning midfielder.
Noah Sadiki’s stats mean Ilia Gruev’s Leeds future is in doubt
Leeds have made a bid to sign Noah Sadiki from Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise. The 20-year-old played a key role in USG’s league win, clocking up 63 appearances for club and country during 2024-25.
Underwood has identified the need for midfielders after losing Joe Rothwell and Josuha Guilavogui. Leeds have just Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev available to Farke and more bodies are required.
But if £4m Gruev was dreaming of playing in the Premier League, he can dream on if Sadiki joins. Their 2024-25 league stats are remarkably similar when it comes to doing what a holding midfielder does.
| Name | League appearances | Tackles (per 90) | Duels won and % (per 90) | Interceptions (per 90) | Blocks (per 90) | Pass accuracy % | FotMob rating |
| Noah Sadiki | 39 | 1.01 | 3.84, 48.1% | 1.03 | 0.19 | 87.3 | 7.20 |
| Ilia Gruev | 23 | 1.22 | 3.70, 52.1% | 1.01 | 0.26 | 90.7 | 7.25 |
Ilia Gruev’s recent comments plunged his own future into doubt
When all three midfielders are fit and not covering other positions, Tanaka and Ampadu start – there is no doubt about that. Bijol’s arrival means Ampadu will not be required to fill in next to Joe Rodon in defence.
If Leeds do end up signing Sadiki, they are simply bringing in a younger version of the Bulgarian – to the tune of a bargain £8.5m. Even if they are similar in stats, Sadiki is only 20 and has a much-higher ceiling.
Gruev’s future is in doubt if Sadiki arrives. It comes after Gruev said Bulgaria’s players need to be playing regularly at club level to have any success with the National Team, plunging his own future into doubt.
The left-footed midfielder was always going to find game time hard to come by, having failed to start regularly in the Championship. Now, the possible addition of Sadiki intensifies that in the Premier League.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
