Leeds United are working hard in their bid to make some new signings in the coming days and weeks, having already got one over the line on the weekend in Lukas Nmecha.
Adam Underwood and the Leeds transfer team seem as though they have intensified their work in the window recently. Jaka Bijol is expected to arrive at Leeds in the coming hours to undergo a Leeds medical.
Fabrizio Romano says Leeds have agreed a fee of £18.75m for Bijol. The Slovenia defender looks set to become the club’s second summer signing and arguably, the first real signal of intent from The Whites.
Talks have been held to sign the likes of Noah Sadiki, Maxime Stroeykens, Reinildo Mandava and Alex Moreno. But as players continue to be linked with Leeds, others are now set to depart Elland Road.
Danny Mills urges Leeds to ‘sacrifice’ Mateo Joseph this summer
With Nmecha on board and Leeds expected to try and sign another striker, The Whites will have to face up to the prospect of selling one or two options up top. Patrick Bamford’s contract ends in June 2026.
Meanwhile, LeedsUnited.News understands Mateo Joseph is keen to join Real Betis. Leeds have agreed to let Joseph leave, with the star currently in Slovakia with Spain’s U21 side at the European Championships.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post (17 June, page 24), former Leeds defender Danny Mills thinks Leeds need to consider selling Joseph before it backfires and Leeds lose value in the striker due to lack of minutes.
“He’s not been able to do that [be a mainstay] in the Championship. It is then a calculated gamble. Will he be great in two or three years? Possibly. Can that come back to bite you on the backside? 100% it can.”
Why Mateo Joseph sale may be required in the eyes of PSR
Leeds are said to have a budget of £150m this summer but if The Whites are going to spend that much, then surely they are blasting through the PSR barrier. Leeds made a £61m loss during the 23-24 season.
If Leeds do spend that much, they will need to sell players in which they garner some profit in PSR terms. Leeds have identified Willy Gnonto and Pascal Struijk as big profits, but Joseph also earns some profit.
“If he’s not going to play, if he’s not going to be in the starting XI for 50% of the games, is that a player you can sacrifice? Probably yes, is the answer. Struijk and Gnonto are more likely to [play],” Mills added.
Betis had a bid rejected for Joseph in January and the Europa Conference League finalists are back in for the striker, with a fee of £8.5m likely for Joseph. There is going to major change at Leeds this summer.
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