Leeds want new centre-back deal done before friendly fixture next week – Phil Hay
Leeds United hope to complete the signing of Freiburg centre-back Robin Koch before they play the first of “several” friendly matches next week, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist reports that Koch, 24, is interested in a move to the Premier League but is also attracting attention from at least one other Bundesliga club.
However, it is understood that the Whites are likely to table a formal bid for the Germany international this week as they prepare for their first pre-season friendly next week.
Koch now seems to be Leeds’ number one defensive target after the club reached an impasse in their bid to re-sign Ben White from Brighton.
The Freiburg centre-back is a similar type of defender to White as he’s defensively sound while also calm and composed with the ball at his feet.
It also helps that Koch can play in a defensive midfield role, as he has done plenty of times for Freiburg.
According to the Bundesliga website, Koch is a “rangy battering ram”, who can be compared to Bayern Munich enforcer Javi Martinez.
It will be interesting to see whether Mateusz Klich plays a role in helping Leeds sign Koch as the Elland Road star played alongside the German during a spell at Kaiserslautern earlier in his career.
Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta will have no doubt asked Klich to send a cheeky text message or something to the Freiburg ace to see if that can grease the wheels for any potential deal but it does seem already as though he’s keen to move to England.
After missing out on White, Leeds cannot afford to miss out on another centre-back target with their first friendly match taking place next week and just over two weeks to go before they play against Liverpool in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to sign this Arsenal midfielder on loan.