MusaLeeds United have been home to a number of star defenders in recent years, many of whom have won the hearts of the fans for their performances on the pitch.
Right-back Luke Ayling joined the Whites for just £500,000 from Bristol City in the summer of 2016 and has made over 250 appearances for the club in eight years.
The 33-year-old was part of the previous team that was promoted back to the Premier League in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa, before being a mainstay throughout their spell in the top flight.
The current squad also boasts a number of stars who have repeated the feat, with Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu and Junior Firpo cementing their place in the club’s history after their roles in the promotion push.
This summer, however, manager Daniel Farke has another chance to strengthen his squad and give more players the chance to connect with the Yorkshire fans.
The latest in Leeds’ summer transfer hunt
In recent days, Leeds have made serious moves to bring in new strikers to Elland Road to give Farke extra ammunition in the final third.
Fabio Silva is one of the players who has been linked with a move to the club in recent days, with talks of the Wolves star, who scored 10 goals in a loan spell at Las Palmas in 2024/25.
However, another name has been thrown into the mix in recent days, with Udinese’s Jako Bijolo the latest player on their radar, according to an Italian source.
They claim the Whites’ first bid for the 26-year-old centre-back was rejected, but they remain in talks over a deal and are preparing a second bid.
The defender has made 34 Serie A appearances this season, with no breakthrough in the Slovenia international’s contract, which is valued at around €20m (£17m).
Why Leeds could target Farke’s £17m Jansson
Centre-back Pontus Jansson joined Leeds in the summer of 2016, initially on loan from Italian side Torino before joining permanently 12 months later.
The Swede made 120 appearances in two spells at Elland Road and captured the hearts of the fans, helping the club to a third-place finish in 2018/19.
His rise to stardom in Yorkshire was demonstrated by his previous appointment as club captain, offering them a commanding presence in the heart of defence.
He would eventually leave to join Brentford after a four-year spell with the Whites, playing a key role in their rebuild and helping the club return to the Premier League in 2020.
But fast-forwarding six years after his departure to Elland Road, the hierarchy have the opportunity to land their next version of a centre-back in the form of Bijol.
The Udinese star would follow suit by joining the club from the Italian side, while also offering a top-class presence at the back – as evidenced by his numbers this campaign.
Bijol, described as “monstrous” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has averaged 5.5 kills per 90 points this campaign, along with 3.3 aerial shots won – giving the Whites extra quality in the backline to help them avoid relegation.
Jake Bijola’s stats for Udinese in Serie A (2024/25)
Stats (per 90)
Tally
Games played
34
Minutes played
2963
Scorers won in the air
3.3
Success rate in the air
68%
Clearances made
5.5
Passing accuracy
84%
Progressive passes
3
Enters the final third
3.3
Stats via FBref
His aerial dominance has been further demonstrated by his 68% aerial wins – a figure that places him in the top 6% of all players in the Italian top flight.
The defender also offers composure in possession, completing 84% of his passes while playing 3.3 balls in the final third per 90 this campaign, and can then make an impact at both ends of the pitch.
£17m for a player of Bijol’s experience in today’s market could prove to be a bargain, with the 26-year-old having the potential to make a hero of himself if they can avoid relegation in 2025/26. He also has the chance to follow in Jansson’s footsteps at Elland Road, where the Swede has shown that signings from Italy have been successful in previous years.
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