Bijol’s entourage to jet into England as Leeds transfer agreement hours away
Leeds United have been chasing the signing of Jaka Bijol all summer.
Daniel Farke is expected to be well-backed in the transfer market by the 49ers, as the Whites look to assemble a squad that is capable of consolidating their top-flight status next term.
The squad desperately needs reinforcements within the backline, and Bijol has been identified as the man who will bring a crucial upgrade at the centre of the defence.
Leeds had been hopeful of their chances of securing a move for the 26-year-old, but concerns have been raised in the last few days amid reported interest from Newcastle.
Leeds close to agreement with Bijol
Leeds had tabled an offer of around £14.5million for Bijol, but with Udinese holding out for more, a deal has always felt like it was some distance away from completion as far as Farke’s side are concerned.
However, news of potential interest from Newcastle has clearly instilled a sense of urgency in Leeds’ negotiations, and now it seems as though the West Yorkshire outfit have a huge chance of landing the Slovenian defender once again.
An agreement is now understood to be close between Leeds and Bijol, according to Orazio Accomando (16 June).
Bijol’s representatives are thought to be flying to the UK for talks, with Leeds hopeful of securing an agreement with Udinese within the next 24 hours.
Bijol would be a big signing for Leeds
Leeds know that they will need to spend plenty of money this summer if they are to have a chance of beating the drop.
The gap between the Premier League and the Championship is increasing with every season that passes, and it is undoubtedly now a huge uphill battle for even the biggest of clubs.
Leeds are badly lacking in proven top-flight and European experience within the squad, and the signing of Bijol would go some way toward addressing that issue.
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Udinese | 95 | 5 | 2 |
| CSKA Moscow | 90 | 6 | 4 |
| Hannover 96 | 31 | – | – |
The 26-year-old has now spent three consecutive seasons in Serie A, and is also seasoned on the international stage, with over 60 caps to his name. That nous and understanding of top-level football could be crucial when it comes to the spine of Leeds’ team.
Ensuring a team has a strong core can be vital when a club is likely to compete at the foot of the table, and signings like Bijol could make the difference between relegation and survival come the end of next season.