Leeds United are looking to strengthen at centre-back following Pascal Struijk’s departure to Brighton earlier this summer.
The club reluctantly agreed to sell the Dutch defender after it became clear he would not sign a new contract. Coupled with the need to improve their PSR position before the end of June, Leeds felt they had little option but to cash in.
Although there has been speculation that Daniel Farke could switch back to a back four next season, signing another central defender remains one of the club’s biggest priorities.
Replacing Struijk is high on Leeds’ summer agenda, with Farke eager to bring in a new centre-back before the season gets underway. However, Leeds want one more centre-back to replace Sebastiaan Bornauw, who is keen to leave Elland Road.
Read More: Leeds United nearing deal to sign 29-year-old defender
Leeds handed boost in pursuit of World Cup centre-back
Leeds have indicated that the club have certain targets who are busy during the World Cup, leading to delays in moves ahead of next season.
The Whites have been working on several deals with agents and clubs to secure moves for players who are involved in the summer extravaganza.
They stepped up talks to sign Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi, and are pushing to agree terms with the player soon.
And it seems the Whites have had a breakthrough, as according to Football Insider, the 29-year-old is open to a switch to Elland Road in the ongoing window.
The 29-year-old centre-back saw his World Cup come to an end on Sunday as Switzerland were knocked out by Argentina, leaving him free to turn his attention to his club future and consider offers to leave Borussia Monchengladbach.
He worked under Daniel Farke at Gladbach and is now interested in a move to Elland Road in the ongoing transfer window.
Nico Elvedi would be a quality and experienced addition to Leeds
The 29-year-old would arrive at Elland Road with a wealth of experience and an impressive pedigree.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Elvedi combines a commanding physical presence with real composure in possession, as shown by his 93 per cent pass completion rate and 325 clearances across all competitions last season.
While he is naturally right-footed and would not be a direct replacement for Pascal Struijk, his versatility is one of his biggest assets. Elvedi is comfortable playing across the back line, giving Daniel Farke plenty of tactical flexibility.
Whether Leeds stick with a back three or revert to a back four, his mobility, positional awareness and ability to play out from the back make him an excellent fit for the demands of Premier League football.
