The best ability, they say, is availability. And that is certainly one attribute that will appeal to Leeds United amid reports of a potential reunion with one of Daniel Farke’s old favourites.
Because while the chances of a central defensive signing at Elland Road appear to be diminishing with every day the deadline creeps closer – Daniel Farke’s priority appears to be an Emi Buendia-like number ten at present – Nico Elvedi could still become a Leeds United player at some point in 2025.
With his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach expiring in the summer, Leeds can save themselves a rumoured £8 million by waiting until the experienced Switzerland international becomes a free-agent.
Such an approach may go down well with the Elvedi camp, too. If he has reservations about leaving the Bundesliga for England’s second tier, those doubts would surely be dispelled if Leeds, as expected, secure a return to the Premier League in May.
Elvedi’s departure from Borussia Park feels inevitable, given that contract talks have rumbled on for months without a resolution in sight.
But, when the day comes to say those tear-stained goodbyes, Elvedi will at least head for the exit with a place in Monchengladbach history to call his own. Should he feature against relegation-threatend Bochum on Saturday, the former FC Zurich stopper will replace goalkeeper Yan Sommer as the foreign player with the most Bundesliga appearances in a Gladbach shirt.
Leeds United would sign a Bundesliga record-breaker in Nico Elvedi
Elvedi is currently on 272. The same number as his Swiss teammate and now-Inter Milan glovesman Sommer.
Elvedi, in his testimonial year as a Gladbach player, has made a staggering 315 appearances in all competitions. That is an average of over 30 games a season.
In that time, he has missed fewer than 40 matches due to injury. In fact, the longest spell he endured on the sidelines came when Elvedi spent just shy of two months out of action all the way back in 2017.
Leeds, then, could not only be getting themselves a reliable, solid, ball-playing central defender with bags of experience, but also one who barely misses a minute through injury or illness.
Elvedi would bring longevity, yes, but also a largely unblemished availability record.
Farke even labelled Nico Elvedi one of Europe’s finest defenders during their brief time together in Germany during the 2022/23 season. A campaign in which Elvedi played all but two of Gladbach’s 34 Bundesliga matches.
“Nico Elvedi is an absolute leader for us,” Farke told the Rheinische Post at the time. “When he is at his best, he is one of the best central defenders in Europe. He has proven that over the years.”
Daniel Farke shares positive Pascal Struijk update as Leeds’ defensive fears diminish
Elvedi is not the only centre-half who has been linked with a move to West Yorkshire this month. Leeds United reportedly bid for Abdukodir Khusanov before Manhcester City splashed out £33 million, while talks were held with Nottingham Forest msifit Andrew Omobamidele.
Omobamidele instead joined Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan.
Perhaps the lack of movement on the defensive front owes much to Ethan Ampadu’s impressive return to action, and some welcome positivity regarding the fitness of Pascal Struijk.
Daniel Farke is confident Struijk will be back for Leeds sooner rather than later, his absence a case of weeks rather than months.
“The scan was very good,” Farke told reporters after Leeds beat Norwich 2-0 on Wednesday night. “The tendon was not involved. We can be more progressive with his rehab.
“We have him outside, a few more days and [we will] have him back in team training. It looks good. He won’t be out for 10 weeks, some good news.”
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