Leeds United are in the market for a new centre-back and top of the agenda seems to be Udinese’s 62-time Slovenia international Jaka Bijol, with a £17m fee enough to land his signature.
Bijol, 26, has starred in Serie A over the last three seasons. But with his contract due to expire in 2026, it looks as if Udinese will have to cash in – with Bijol admitting he is ready to take the next step and move.
Leeds have set aside £150m to spend with centre-back one of four key positions and Bijol would improve what Leeds have in terms of partnering Joe Rodon. Here are the winners and losers of Bijol’s arrival.
The winners if Leeds United pull off Jaka Bijol deal
Adam Underwood
Leeds fans are slightly worried that the club have hired within and promoted Underwood to the role of sporting director, without any prior experience. If he beats Italy’s best clubs to Bijol, he earns some trust.
Daniel Farke
Farke will have selection dilemmas next season as he looks to keep Leeds in the Premier League but with the addition of Bijol alongside Rodon, the German won’t have to worry who is starting at centre-back.
Joe Rodon
Rodon has had to deal with constantly changing centre-back partners over the years. Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu, Charlie Cresswell, Max Wober. With Bijol, Leeds have a clear first-choice partner.
Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu is better in midfield and probably prefers to play there. Right in the mix of it all. If Leeds sign Bijol ahead of both Milan clubs and Juventus, then Ampadu can remain in midfield instead of defence.
The losers if Jaka Bijol arrives at Leeds United this summer
Max Wober
Wober has made it public that Leeds want to sell him and it possibly points towards Leeds looking to sign a new defender. Bijol, or any other centre-back arriving at Elland Road, pushes Wober towards the exit.
Pascal Struijk
Struijk should not only be worried about his place in the side, but his Leeds future. Bringing Bijol to Leeds is an improvement on Struijk by a considerable margin, and makes his future flexible given his PSR profit.
Ilia Gruev
Last season, Gruev came into the side because Ampadu was playing in defence alongside Rodon due to Struijk’s injury. With Bijol in defence, Ampadu remains in midfield and Gruev is the one to come out.
James Debayo
Last season, Debayo managed two senior outings. A loan was always likely this time around and it is probably the right thing for his career, perhaps a low-end Championship team and Bijol accelerates that.
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