Leeds United look to be landing a stalwart in Sebastiaan Bornauw who is set to become the third signing of the season.
The Belgian central defender will be arriving from Wolfsburg, as he follows the same destiny as Lukas Nmecha.
Both players will know each other well already giving Daniel Farke a boost with the signing of the 26-year-old.
Bornauw has been compared to Daniel van Buyten, as it’s not bad going to have your name associated with a Champions League-winning centre back.
But more importantly, Bornauw has three players he idolises, which might give a hint to his playstyle at Leeds.
The three players next Leeds United signing Sebastiaan Bornauw idolises
There is clearly a pattern emerging after Bournauw’s £5m agreement, and that’s the height of the new signings.
Farke will know his side have to be physical in the Premier League, and the 49ers’ transfer profiles are going the right way about it.
It’s been made clear that Farke has been after Bornauw since his Norwich City tenure so to finally land his man is great to see.
But the more appealing factor might be who he idolises, as he could work these traits into his game.
Speaking to the Bundesliga in 2020, the 26-year-old named Vincent Kompany alongside two other great centre-backs as his idols.
“I had several, in football I always had the perfect defender in my head, I had to collect pieces of everybody,” Bornauw said.
“I remember liking the mentality of (Carles) Puyol, I liked (Vincent) Kompany, he’s Belgian and comes from Anderlecht. I liked to watch Raphael Varane.”
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How Daniel Farke has the ultimate defender with Bornauw at Leeds
It’s easy to name these three players, but it takes a lot more to replicate them.
What Bornauw seemingly has in his own category is his aerial threat, as he doesn’t mind a goal or two (1:44).
This is why van Buyten comparisons came about, but how does he relate to the other three?
Well, to start, he states the obvious naming Puyol’s mentality, and an example can be shown through the defender’s ability to bounce back from back surgery after having issues, exemplifying his mentality to secure a move to Leeds.
As mentioned, he ‘collects pieces’ of each one, and for Kompany, it’s his leadership as the 26-year-old has been known to be vocal throughout his career from centre-back, which is exactly what Farke needs alongside Bijol who has been called a leader as well.
Finally, with Varane, it’s his intelligence that stands out, as Bornauw reads the game well from the back, as seen below.
To heighten his chances of replicating these traits, Bornauw has already had the pleasure to play with Kompany during his time with Anderlecht, and although they lost 2-1 to Oostende in 2019, Bornauw would have learnt a lot from the experienced Belgian.
When you combine all these traits, Farke has the ultimate defender coming to Elland Road.
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