Over the last couple of years, Leeds United has been the home to numerous star defenders, many of whom have captured the hearts of the fanbase as a result of their performances on the pitch.
Right-back Luke Ayling joined the Whites for just £500k from Bristol City back in the summer of 2016, racking up over 250 appearances for the club over an eight-year period.
The 33-year-old was part of the previous side that won promotion back to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, before being a mainstay throughout their stint in the top-flight.
The current squad also has many stars that have replicated such an achievement, with the likes of Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu and Junior Firpo cementing their place in club history after their respective parts in the promotion.
However, this summer presents boss Daniel Farke with another opportunity to strengthen his squad, handing more players the chance to adhere themselves to the fanbase in Yorkshire.
The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer
Over the last couple of days, Leeds have made serious moves to land new attackers at Elland Road, to hand Farke with added ammunition within the final third.
Fabio Silva is one player who’s been touted with a move to the club in recent days, with talks being held for the Wolves star, who scored 10 goals on loan at Las Palmas in 2024/25.
However, another name has been thrown into the mix over recent days, with Udinese’s Jaka Bijol the latest player on their radar, according to one Italian outlet.
They claim that the Whites have had their first offer rejected for the 26-year-old centre-back, but remain in talks over a deal and are preparing a second offer.
The defender made 34 appearances in Serie A this season, with no breakthrough yet in a deal for the Slovenian international, who’s valued at around €20m (£17m).
Why Leeds’ £17m target could be Farke’s own Jansson
Centre-back Pontus Jansson joined Leeds way back in the summer of 2016, originally moving on loan from Italian side Torino, before joining on a permanent basis 12 months later.
The Swede made 120 appearances during his two spells at Elland Road, capturing the hearts of the supporters as he helped the club register a third-place finish in 2018/19.
His rise to stardom in Yorkshire was demonstrated by previously being named the club’s captain and offering them a commanding presence at the heart of the defence.
He would eventually leave to join Brentford after a four-year spell with the Whites, playing a huge part in their rebuild and allowing the club to return to the Premier League back in 2020.
However, fast forward six years on from his Elland Road departure, the hierarchy have the opportunity to land their next version of the centre-back in the form of Bijol.
The Udinese star would follow suit by joining the club from an Italian side, whilst offering a commanding presence at the back – as seen by his figures this campaign.
Bijol, who’s been labelled “monstrous” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 5.5 clearances per 90 this campaign, along with 3.3 aerials won – handing the Whites added quality in the back line in their attempts to avoid the drop.
Jaka Bijol’s stats for Udinese in Serie A (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Tally |
Games played | 34 |
Minutes played | 2963 |
Aerials won | 3.3 |
Aerial success rate | 68% |
Clearances made | 5.5 |
Pass accuracy | 84% |
Progressive passes | 3 |
Passes into final third | 3.3 |
Stats via FBref | |
His aerial dominance has been further demonstrated by his tally of 68% aerials won – a tally that puts him within the top 6% of all players in Italy’s top flight.
The defender also offers a composed touch in possession, completing 84% of his passes, whilst also playing 3.3 balls into the final third per 90 this campaign, subsequently able to have an impact at both ends of the pitch.
£17m for a player of Bijol’s experience in today’s market could well prove to be a bargain, with the 26-year-old able to make himself a hero if he can prevent relegation in 2025/26.
He also has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Jansson at Elland Road, with the Swede showcasing that signing players from Italy has been a success in previous years.
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