49ers ‘to push for £16m+ transfer at Leeds United’ after Jaka Bijol admission
Daniel Farke will hope 49ers Enterprises can make Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol the first signing at Leeds United in the ongoing transfer window.
The Serie A outfit want around £16million for the Slovenia international, and it remains to be seen whether the Whites will match that fee.
Bijol has reportedly agreed personal terms at Elland Road as the West Yorkshire outfit look to bolster their backline.
There’s still work to do to get a deal officially over the line, and the Peacocks may want to avoid any complications further down the line by pushing for the deal.
Leeds United to push for Bijol as Udinese stay not ruled out
Bijol hasn’t ruled out staying at Udinese ahead of next season amid interest from Leeds, giving the 49ers an incentive to secure his signing as soon as possible.
The 26-year-old has expressed his gratitude towards the Serie A outfit, but wants to take the next step in his career, with a move to Elland Road an option.
AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma, along with the Premier League, are the centre-back’s options, but he doesn’t have a preference.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes played |
| 37 | 2 | 2 | 3189 |
Speaking to Gianluca Di Marzio (7 June), the Slovenian defender said: “In football, you never know. I am grateful to Udinese, who have given me so much, and I am happy in Udine. But I would like to make the leap.
“No, I don’t [have a preference]. Who knows, maybe at the end of the summer I will still be an Udinese player. Let’s see what happens, in football nothing is guaranteed.”
49ers must sanction Bijol transfer at Elland Road
Max Wober could soon leave Leeds after a lack of game time this season, with consistent fitness issues hampering his chances.
Farke was without Pascal Struijk in the final matches of the season after the defender picked up a knock, sidelining him for a considerable period.
It remains to be seen in what shape the Dutch national returns for next season in the Premier League.
Ethan Ampadu’s injuries at Leeds have also been concerning, leaving the German manager with a dearth of options in the backline.
James Debayo is still young, but it doesn’t look like Farke trusts him much, making the addition of a new centre-back an evident priority for the Whites.
The West Yorkshire outfit need to be prepared for the challenges of the top flight and can’t leave themselves short on options as they may risk immediate relegation.
Bijol is an experienced centre-back with years of experience as a starter in Serie A and captained his national side in their 1-0 win over Luxembourg on 6 June.
With centre-back undoubtedly one of the key positions the West Yorkshire outfit must bolster, it would make sense for them to get the 26-year-old through the door in the coming days.