Jaka Bijol is the marquee signing of Leeds United’s summer transfer window so far, and it looks like it’s a type of signing that we could see quite a lot of at Elland Road this summer.
What Leeds United do in this summer’s transfer window will play a huge part in whether or not they beat the drop next season. In fact, many might argue that their summer transfer business has the biggest say on how the club will perform in the Premier League.
There remains two more months of the summer transfer window to go: plenty of time for Daniel Farke to add to the two signings his Leeds side have already completed this summer.
First, Leeds United signed Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer. Second was Jaka Bijol. Leeds United have paid £15million to sign Bijol from Udinese in a signing that’s really excited fans.
Bijol impressed at Euro 2024 with Slovenia proving to be one of the players of the tournament. He’s also shone in Serie A with Udinese, yet £15million for such a player seems like a bargain fee, and you’d bet that he doesn’t earn half-as-much as some of the Premier League’s centre-backs.
In fact, Salary Sport say that Bijol earned £17,000-a-week at Udinese. Factoring in a healthy pay rise and he’s surely well within Leeds’ pay level.
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Leeds United trying to replicate Jaka Bijol signing with Gabriel Gudmundsson
Europe looks like the market where Leeds are placing a lot of their focus during this summer’s transfer market. And next in line for a move to Elland Road could be Lille and Sweden left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Leeds United have been linked with a move for Gudmundsson after seeing Junior Firpo agree a move to Real Betis. Out of contract in 2026, Gudmundsson has been tipped to leave Lille this summer and right now, England is looking like his likeliest destination, with links to Leeds, Burnley, and Everton.
Gudmundsson has even discussed a potential move to Leeds, admitting that he thinks it’s a big club and that he has ambitions to play in the Premier League one day. It’s set the stage for Leeds to swoop in for the £8million-rated 26-year-old, all while giving us a clear idea of what Leeds are trying to do this summer.
Daniel Farke and Leeds United have a trick up their sleeve
As a newly-promoted Premier League team, and in a Premier League that’s becoming incredibly hostile to promoted teams, Leeds look as though they’re trying to do some smart business that aligns with the resources available to them.
They can’t go out and spend £100million on a Florian Wirtz. But Leeds have a £150million transfer budget this summer and so there’s money to be spent, but to be spent smartly with multiple players needed.
So instead of shopping in England or among the top teams of Europe, where prices and wages are inflated, Farke is looking at some of the more mid-table teams in Europe where he can pick up bargains like Bijol and Gudmundsson.
And what’s great about these players, apart from the fact they usually come cheaper and demand much less in wages, is that they have huge experience. Bijol and Gudmundsson are both international players who’ve been playing top flight football in Italy and France respectively for a number of years.
Whilst lacking Premier League experience could prove a headache, it’s arguably the best type of player that Leeds United can attract right now. And of course, there’s every chance that these types of players go on to shine.
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