Jaka Bijol is expected to arrive at Elland Road during the week and become Leeds United’s second signing of the summer after Lukas Nmecha was confirmed on Sunday – and now, a third deal is close.
Leeds have been busy over the last week and Germany international Nmecha was confirmed by the club on Sunday, just hours after news of Nmecha’s arrival was reported. He has signed a pre-contract deal.
The Wolfsburg star will officially become a Leeds player on July 1, on a free. Fabrizio Romano posted his catchphrase “here we go”, when describing the state of a move for Bijol with an £18.75m fee agreed.
While it is deemed a real coup for Bijol and Nmecha adds some much-needed top-flight experience in attack, this is only going to be the tip of the iceberg for Leeds ahead of an influx of signings this summer.
Leeds’ third summer signing is likely to be £12m full-back
What, or who next, then? Well, a report from TeamTalk claims that the third player through the door at Leeds will be Max Aarons. The right-back has returned to Bournemouth after a loan spell at Valencia.
The report claims Aarons is on the transfer list at Bournemouth and The Cherries are desperate to get rid of the right-back, who chose to join Bournemouth over Leeds in the summer of 2024 from Norwich.
TeamTalk say that Aarons is available for £12m and is ‘set’ to become the club’s third summer signing after Bijol and Nmecha. It is unclear how genuine the report is, but Leeds have shown interest before.
How close did Max Aarons come to signing for Leeds in 2023
It comes after Aarons almost joined Leeds two years ago, weeks after Farke has returned to England after his spell alongside Aarons at Norwich. Farke had tried to lure the Norwich academy product to Leeds.
Aarons was said to be on his way to Leeds to complete a deal, only for Bournemouth to hijack a move at the last minute. Following his move to Bournemouth, Aarons even apologised to his old manager Farke.
Two years on and after sheer frustration at Bournemouth and even at Valencia, it seems Aarons could well get the chance to reignite his career under the man that started it. Jayden Bogle is expected to start.
But Aarons could come in as a replacement for Sam Byram, in that he is able to play on both flanks and provide Leeds with full-back cover. Leeds will lose both Byram and Firpo, who is close to joining Betis.
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