Leeds United now set to push ahead with plans to sign £18m forward after Lukas Nmecha

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What looked like a slow-burner of a summer transfer window for Leeds United has burst into life in the last week.

Leeds United fans were wondering if this summer’s transfer window was going to be anything like the club’s January transfer window, which saw links to a horde of players, but no actual signings in the end.

Whilst many signings are expected this summer, it was the wait for a first signing that had fans anxious. But then, Leeds United completed the signing of Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer, getting transfer matters underway.

Then, it was revealed by Fabrizio Romano that Leeds United have agreed a deal to sign Jaka Bijol from Udinese. Daniel Farke’s side have been chasing the Slovenian international for several weeks and will now sign the centre-back in a £19million deal.

And fans are wondering who might be next. There remains some key positions for Farke to bolster this summer: in goal and at left-back after Junior Firpo’s move to Real Betis was revealed, whilst more midfielders and attackers are needed.

Indeed, it seems as though we could see another attacking signing next.

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The latest on Leeds United’s interest in Besiktas forward Semih Kilicsoy

One name mentioned throughout the summer so far is Semih Kilicsoy. Soon after the end of the season, it was claimed that Leeds United officials were flying out to hold talks with Kilicsoy, over a potential £8.5million move to Elland Road. But there’s been a lot of back and forth since then.

Besiktas can’t seem to make up their mind on the 19-year-old Turkish international, with subsequent reports that Besiktas want to send Kilicsoy out on loan and with an £18million option to buy. Now, TeamTalk have shared the latest on Kilicsoy and on Leeds’ next potential signing.

They write that Leeds are ‘pressing forward with their ambitious transfer plans’, with attackers Rodrigo Muniz and Kilicsoy on their radar, as well as defensive midfielder Noah Sadiki. TeamTalk add that ‘Leeds have extensively scouted’ Kilicsoy and that the Besiktas man’s ‘versatility and potential align with Farke’s strategy of investing in young talent’.

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Leeds United face stiff competition to sign Semih Kilicsoy

In the last year or so, Kilicsoy has had links to a number of European clubs. Arsenal and Spurs have even been linked with the striker, whilst more recently it’s been Sunderland and now Leeds United.

Earlier in June though, reports coming out of Turkey revealed how Dutch side FC Utrecht are pushing hard to sign Kilicsoy this summer, and whilst little has been mentioned since, it looks like Utrecht would be Leeds’ main rivals in this transfer race.

Whilst Leeds United have a £150million transfer budget and Premier League football to tempt players with this summer, Utrecht are in the Europa League qualifiers for next season after their 4th placed finish in the Eredivisie last season.

So a transfer battle between Leeds and Utrecht may not be so straightforward, and it could come down to a matter of cost, should Besiktas be open to selling Kilicsoy this summer, instead of loaning him out.