Leeds United are yet to announce the signing of Jaka Bijol from Udinese as their second addition of the summer transfer window.
All being well, Jaka Bijol should be Leeds United’s second summer signing imminently after the reveal in midweek from Fabrizio Romano that Leeds had agreed a fee for Bijol.
It was then reported that Leeds were set to have Bijol’s deal rubber-stamped as the player flew to England following the conclusion of his wedding celebrations last weekend.
Bijol’s entourage flew to Leeds to hold further discussions and his medical was the next step for the player at Thorp Arch on Thursday.
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The Athletic provide Jaka Bijol and Leeds United update
It’s thought that Bijol has already agreed terms with Leeds on a contract until 2029. Following medical tests, there ought to have been very little left to do regarding finalising a deal.
Bijol will have to choose a new shirt number to wear at Leeds and the Whites have looked set to land their top defensive transfer target ahead of the new season for a number of days now.
However, Thursday and Friday have since passed without an announcement. Many fans are hopeful of a weekend announcement but nothing has been announced and are confused at the hold-up.
Beren Cross of The Athletic has revealed that he is shocked at how long it has taken but the same can also be said of some people inside the club, too.
He states that nobody anticipated how long the paperwork would drag out for but that he has — perhaps most crucially — been reassured several times that everything is in hand and on track.
How many defenders do Leeds need on top of Bijol? Who have Leeds looked at?
Other additions to the backline are of paramount importance, with very few senior full-backs contracted to the club beyond the end of this month.
With Max Wober also likely to leave, it’s possible Leeds eye deals for defenders in both the centre of the defence and at full-back as well.
One player linked is Gabriel Gudmundsson but another Leeds have looked at is Natan of Real Betis. Both players are versatile, which is perhaps the way to plug numerous gaps.
Gudmundsson has been utilised as a winger, a wing-back, a full-back, and a centre-back for club and country in his career. Predominantly a full-back or wing-back, he would be a useful utility player.
That is especially true if he is paired with a signing like Natan, who is a defensive-minded full-back or and out-and-out central defender. He has operated as both in his career.
However, Leeds need more than just those two and Bijol to add competition and depth to the primary first-team defenders of Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, and Jayden Bogle.
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