Leeds could have to pay £7m+ more than first offer to sign “joke” of a talent

Leeds United will now have to significantly up their offer for a defender this summer, having seen an initial bid turned down.

Leeds eye defensive signings for Premier League return

The Whites are preparing for life back in the Premier League, as they look to achieve the increasingly rare task of remaining in the top flight and avoiding a speedy return to the Championship.

Defensive reinforcements are essential for Leeds, with world-class players coming up against them next season, and Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has been linked with a move to Elland Road, being seen as an upgrade on the hit-and-miss Illan Meslier. The 25-year-old was on loan at Strasbourg in 2024/25 and could jump at the chance to join a new club permanently.

Atletico Madrid left-back Reinildo is another potential addition for the Whites before the summer transfer window reaches its conclusion, being seen as a strong replacement for Junior Firpo ahead of his expected move to Real Betis.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Leeds are preparing a bid for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, and now, another rumour has dropped regarding the defender.

Leeds need to pay £21.2m to sign defender

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Leeds and 49ers Enterprises could have to pay as much as £21.2m to sign Bijol this summer after their first offer of £13.6m was rejected by the Serie A side. A bare minimum of £17m will be needed.

The 26-year-old is seen as a priority option for the Whites ahead of next season, with Daniel Farke being backed financially by the club’s owners.

Bijol stands out as a brilliant defensive option to come in, possessing lots of experience but also still having years in him at the top level.

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The Udinese ace already has 63 caps to his name for Slovenia, meaning he has a great chance of reaching the century milestone at some point in his career, and analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a “joke”, such is his quality.

Last season, Bijol shone at the heart of Udinese’s defence, averaging 5.4 clearances and 3.2 aerial duel wins per game in Serie A, with the table below further highlighting what a dominant campaign he enjoyed.

There are few negatives to Leeds signing the Slovenian, even though he won’t arrive on the cheap, and it is a piece of business they should be prioritising.