Leeds United have been busy on the transfer front in recent weeks and it doesn’t look as though they’re anywhere near finished yet.
The Whites have officially signed Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Lukas Nmecha so far.
In addition, Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff is reportedly set for a move to Leeds after a deal was struck earlier this week.
One good indicator when it comes to players closing in on a move elsewhere is whether they miss out on a match while talks are ongoing.
However, one player Leeds United are trying to sign was involved in his club’s latest pre-season friendly, which they won by double figures.
Anton Stach of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim plays the ball during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Bayern Munich at the PreZero-Arena on May 17, 2025
Photo by Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Anton Stach features in Hoffenheim friendly win over Sportfreunde Lauffen
The player in question is Anton Stach, who currently plies his trade for German outfit Hoffenheim.
On Wednesday, Sky Sport Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reported that Leeds have agreed personal terms with Stach.
However, talks between Leeds and Hoffenheim are still ongoing, with the Bundesliga side reportedly demanding around £17million plus add-ons.
🚨🔵🟡 Excl | Leeds have agreed personal terms with Anton #Stach. Negotiations with TSG Hoffenheim have already started, but there is no agreement yet. TSG are currently demanding around €20m + add-ons.
The 26 y/o central midfielder is under contract until 2027. Hoffenheim… pic.twitter.com/D0I7LbLHC2
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 16, 2025
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On Wednesday, Hoffenheim were in action against district league side Sportfreunde Lauffen, who had won a competition to take on the German top-flight side.
Stach began the game on the bench, but was brought on at the start of the second half as Christian Ilzer rotated his entire starting XI.
Hoffenheim won 11-0, with Haris Tabakovic, Gift Orban and Tim Lemperle scoring braces, while Kelven Frees, Muhammed Damar, Marius Bulter, Luka Duric and David Mokwa also netted.
We are off again in the second half! ▶️
Eleven changes 🔄
Here is how we line up:
Petersson – Drexler, Arthur Chaves, Akpoguma, Behrens – Stach, Becker – Mokwa, Bülter – Duric, Tabakovic
— TSG Hoffenheim EN (@tsghoffenheimEN) July 16, 2025
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READ MORE: Leeds United’s stance towards new striker signing as talks held with veteran Premier League duo
What Anton Stach could bring to Leeds United
Leeds would be getting themselves one of the Bundesliga’s most underrated midfielders in Stach.
As per Opta stat man and Leeds fan Jonny Cooper, Stach has a superb record in the Bundesliga for interceptions, tackles, possession won, and duels won.
Anton Stach is ranked in the top-four in the Bundesliga across the last two seasons for… #lufc
Interceptions (120, 1st)
Tackles (142, 4th)
Possession won (393, 3rd)
Duels won (381, 4th) pic.twitter.com/KPQVhjYQGB
— Jonny Cooper (@JRCooper26) July 16, 2025
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Meanwhile, the Bundesliga website wrote in 2022: “A strapping midfielder who used to play further forward but now anchors his club side’s play, Stach has more than a little in common stylistically with former Germany great Stefan Effenberg.
“It has been a while since Germany has had a midfielder just as adept at the dirty work as anything else – Sami Khedira was perhaps the last.”