Leeds United remain hopeful of landing a deal for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol soon - though reports that a deal has been reached have been dismissed as premature at this point.
Sources in Italy have underlined that Leeds are the club to have made the greatest advances towards a deal and remain in pole position to land Bijol. United insiders are hopeful of securing the transfer before long.
Claims by Fabrizio Romano that an £18.7million deal with add-ons has been agreed have been labelled inaccurate as things stand but the completion of the transfer looks imminent.
Talks between the Serie A club and Leeds continue but could quickly come to a head in due course given Bijol’s transfer stance. He still has two years left on his Udinese contract.
It has also been outlined by sources in Udine that there has been little in the way of anything serious regarding Newcastle United’s intentions as things currently stand, amid reports that the Magpies are spying a late hijack.
As reported by Leeds Live on Saturday, Bijol himself has already said yes to a move to United with personal terms set to be formalised. Those in Udine have acknowledged that he is likely to leave this summer.
The 26-year-old, who has 63 caps for Slovenia, could become the second signing of the window following Lukas Nmecha’s agreement to join United on July 1 once his contract at Wolfsburg expires at the end of this month.
United have meanwhile submitted a bid worth around £22m for Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra, but are less optimistic about a transfer success.
Leeds Live has been told that, while Strasbourg are willing to sell for a fee close to £22m, the player and his entourage see his future at one of the top European big-hitters, which looks to be a stumbling block.
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United wish to acquire at least five core players this summer, having started to reach out to targets in April. Targets are outlined through a mix of data analysis, scouting and manager preference before options are slimmed down and approaches are made to sound out interest.
Once this has been established more advanced talks persist, which include background checks of character and direct talks with Daniel Farke in the final stages. The manager has a right to veto a proposition - if he doesn’t want them, they do not come in.
Targets in each area have long been listed and each player in a certain position will carry the same type of characteristics. United chiefs have approached some targets who have immediately rebuffed the interest, at which point the club stops its pursuit.
The hierarchy are nevertheless taking an ambitious approach to the market and will try to leap for a player they like should some sort of interest be there, even if the chances of landing them are slim.
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