Leeds United have confirmed their second signing of the transfer window in the shape of Jaka Bijol, but it might be worrying at least one of his new teammates.
Daniel Farke is working on significantly improving his squad in the transfer window to get it into fighting shape for the looming Premier League survival battle.
Lukas Nmecha was the surprising first name to be signed, after agreeing a free transfer following his release from Wolfsburg.
Now, after teasing fans for days following his medical, Jaka Bijol has finally been confirmed as a Leeds United player.
The club have spent £18.75m to bring Bijol from Serie A side Udinese, with the Slovenian signing a five-year contract.
Bijol is a powerful centre-back who will add plenty of defensive prowess and experience to the Leeds back-line, but the signing puts Ethan Ampadu in an interesting position ahead of the new season.
Ethan Ampadu could be out of the Leeds United side after Jaka Bijol announcement
Ampadu had a good but challenging season last term, with a knee injury severely disrupting the middle of his campaign.
When the Welsh international returned from his spell on the sidelines, he struggled to fit back into the midfield with Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell outperforming him in the middle.
He slipped out of the side but was handed a lifeline when Pascal Struijk suffered a season-ending injury and Ampadu came into defence to replace him.
He was excellent. Ampadu formed a resolute partnership with compatriot Joe Rodon that proved to be the foundation of their title-winning form in the run-in.
Leeds won their last six games after Ampadu moved to the back, conceding just twice. It seemed that Farke had found his new best centre-back pairing.
However, the arrival of Bijol changes that. Unless Farke is planning a system change to a back-three – not out of the question in the Premier League – then one of the centre-backs will have to make way.
Bijol hasn’t been signed to warm the bench.
Now, as Leeds know all too well, injuries can happen at any time and squad options are massively important. There’s nothing wrong with having multiple players for every position.
Yet, Ampadu will likely be shifted back into midfield but even that position is under threat.
Tanaka is a guaranteed starter and Leeds are still on the hunt for another all-action midfielder to help them compete in the top flight.
Habib Diara is the ambitious target but the likes of Sean Longstaff, Julian Weigl, Tomas Soucek, James McAtee, Matheus Fernandes, Douglas Luiz and Raphael Onyedika have all been linked as well.
Ampadu didn’t perform well in midfield in the Championship and if a new big-money signing does arrive, he can’t afford to put in more poor performances there in the top flight or risk losing his status as a starter.
Even if he is captain. With how Leeds’ business is going so far, only Illan Meslier is more at risk of losing his spot in the side.
Pascal Struijk should also be worried about Jaka Bijol signing
As well as Ampadu, Struijk should be very concerned that his playing time is about to get limited.
Farke isn’t exactly a manager who rotates his starting XI. He finds the team he likes and sticks with it, even when fans are calling for the likes of Largie Ramazani to get a chance.
After his 10/10 season, Rodon has to be the starter alongside Bijol and if no injuries inflict the pair, Struijk might be sat on the bench for a lot of the season.
Leeds shouldn’t sell him, of course, as strength in depth is required, but it might be a frustrating season for the Dutchman.
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