{"id":190990,"date":"2025-06-17T06:35:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T06:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/190990\/"},"modified":"2025-06-17T06:35:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T06:35:34","slug":"leeds-fear-last-minute-hijack-with-17m-jaka-bijol-transfer-very-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/190990\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Leeds fear last-minute hijack with \u00a317m Jaka Bijol transfer very close’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Daniel<\/p>\n

(Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media, Imago)<\/p>\n

\"Oliver <\/p>\n

Mon 16 June 2025 16:43, UK Updated Mon 16 June 2025 17:01, UK <\/p>\n

Leeds United are fearing a last-minute transfer collapse as they close in on a deal to sign Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leeds<\/a> marched on to the Championship title last season in superb form, as Daniel Farke\u2019s<\/a> side picked up 100 points across the campaign to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.<\/p>\n

Their step-up to the top-flight is set to be a challenging one, but boss Farke has recently moved to seal the free signing of Wolfsburg forward Lukas Nmecha to bolster his Leeds squad<\/a>, and more arrivals are expected soon.<\/p>\n

Udinese<\/a> centre-back Bijol has been one of those set to make the move to Elland Road, with his stock rising after a stellar Serie A campaign that saw him make 34 appearances last season. <\/p>\n

Leeds have been reported as closing in on a move for the 26-year-old, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post<\/a>, but new developments around interest in his services have now plunged the Whites\u2019 pursuit into uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\"JakaBijol has been a key man for Udinese (Credit: Imago)Leeds fearing late Jaka Bijol transfer hijack as Newcastle and AC Milan register interest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bijol\u2019s talents have seen him rated at around \u00a317million by Udinese\u2019s chiefs, and he would provide competition for Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk at the heart of Farke\u2019s defence if he was to join the Whites this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES<\/p>\n

Despite Leeds being in advanced negotiations for his signature, The Guardian<\/a> have now claimed that the Elland Road outfit are fearful of a move for Bijol collapsing due to late interest from fellow Premier League side Newcastle United<\/a> and Italian giants AC Milan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They claim that Magpies boss Eddie Howe is after a \u201cright-sided, ball-playing central defender,\u201d so the Slovenian international is a target, and the Tyneside club\u2019s priority is to wrap up a deal for Crystal Palace\u2019s\u00a0Marc Gu\u00e9hi<\/a>, but a deal could prove out of reach.<\/p>\n

Football Insider<\/strong> recently revealed that Newcastle and Arsenal are in direct competition to sign Guehi<\/a> this summer, and so if the England international chooses the Emirates Stadium, it would make the Magpies\u2019 need for a replacement even greater.<\/p>\n

\n

When Jaka Bijol stopped a move in his own box and finished one at the other end \ud83d\udd00#MonzaUdinese<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/i5fpGBFkco<\/a><\/p>\n

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) June 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n