Udinese are now ready to rubber-stamp Jaka Bijol’s move to Leeds United as new update emerges

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Leeds United are close to announcing a deal to sign Jaka Bijol from Udinese in a big-money move that sees Leeds splash a fee close to £20m on the Slovenia international.

The 26-year-old defender has been strongly linked with a move to Leeds recently. Gianluca Di Marzio said Leeds had a bid rejected for Bijol last week, but now Fabrizio Romano says Leeds have now agreed a fee.

That fee is believed to be a whopping £18.75m, with Udinese negotiating hard to earn as much money for their star defender. Indeed, the Pozzo family are renowned for being difficult to work with in negotiations.

But Leeds seem to have done it and a medical is now scheduled. A move will see Bijol become the club’s second signing after Lukas Nmecha signed on – and Udinese are now close to giving the green light.

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Udinese are one step away from giving Leeds the green light

Udinese and Leeds have agreed a fee, but if anything was stopping The Whites from getting a deal rubber-stamped by Udinese, it would be the Serie A club failing to get a replacement in beforehand.

Well, that is about to change. According to numerous reports in Italy, including TuttoMercatoWeb, Udinese have identified their replacement for Bijol in the form of Nicolo Bertola and offered a contract.

Bertolo is currently at Ethan Ampadu’s old loan side Spezia, but the impressive young defender is out of contract at the end of the month and a move to Udinese is now a formality, with a four-year deal offered.

What are Leeds expected to do after signing Jaka Bijol?

Daniel Farke and Adam Underwood seem to be keen on improving the spine of Leeds’ starting XI. With Bijol improving the club’s options in the middle of the defence, Leeds will soon be able to say job done.

But Leeds are also in the market for a new goalkeeper to replace Illan Meslier, a new midfielder with a £22m bid for Habib Diarra on the table and a Leeds move potentially ‘imminent’ for Diarra as per reports.

Leeds are expected to bring in a big-money striker with Lukas Nmecha thought to just provide back-up for Farke’s men. Replacements are also required for Junior Firpo and Manor Solomon on the left flank.