Leeds United have plenty of work to do this summer, with top flight experience and quality required to make their squad competitive for the Premier League.
How much Leeds United have to spend will depend on a number of factors, including potential PSR sales again. This summer should be less chaotic than the last two years but with a number of fresh faces still coming through the door.
Exactly how much Leeds can spend is still up for debate after £250 million claims have been made but the club can look ahead and begin their planning for the 2025/26 campaign now ahead of schedule, with no play-off final pausing their ability to do deals.
Daniel Farke’s future has been resolved and Paraag Marathe has admitted he fell in love with Leeds’ boss, but more of the 49ers making lots of correct decisions behind the scenes is needed after they got recruitment choices bang on in 2024.
Leeds United should upgrade at centre-back with Jaka Bijol
Leeds transfer rumours have begun and more is sure to come, while a number of Leeds players need new contracts or to be released in the coming weeks. The first outgoing has been at board level, with Angus Kinnear the first departure.
Paraag Marathe’s ambitious claim will have to now be put in motion as the summer window opens soon. They cannot stand still or be inactive, even if this Leeds team has ‘astounded’ experts and numerous current players have been a key component of that.
This record-breaking Leeds team has been so utterly dominant, but Adam Pope believes Leeds will need to make six major signings at least. One of those ought to be an extra central defender, with Pascal Struijk still suffering from the odd injury trouble and Max Wober persistently having troubles this season.
Not only that, but Ethan Ampadu should be playing consistently in defensive midfield as opposed to the heart of the defence. It leaves just Joe Rodon as the only mainstay who is reliable and available, albeit the Welshman is unlikely to be as dependable at Premier League level.
One player who should be on Leeds’ radar is Udinese’s 26-year-old centre-back Jaka Bijol. The 61-cap Slovenia international has become one of the best central defenders in Italy’s Serie A outside of the top five or six clubs.
He impressed at EURO 2024 last summer, against England no less, and has plenty of the attributes needed for a team expected to be fighting against relegation next season. Leeds need physicality and warriors, as well as the height to be vital in both boxes at attacking and defending set-pieces.
Bijol has all of that, while also being a capable player on the ball as well. He has operated as the central centre-back in a back three system for much of his time at Udinese, but he can be utilised in a back four as either the left or right-sided player.
That could be crucial for Leeds, who know Struijk’s qualities are undeniably impressive, but also know that Rodon has seldom featured in the top flight before.
It makes Bijol an intriguing option, but also a necessary one. They know he could play on the left with Rodon then on the right, or on the right with Struijk then on the left. It would free up Ampadu to perform his best role in screening the back four as well.
A peak-age defender of Bijol’s type is paramount this summer. Leeds have to acquire more in that area and cannot rely on a midfielder in that role or the perennially injured Wober. As vice-captain of Udinese, he would also bring vitally important intangibles such as leadership to the dressing room as well.
Can Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk cut it in the Premier League?
Both Struijk and Rodon should make an even better fist of Premier League football than the last time either played at the top level when they are given the chance to in 2025/26.
Both are older and more developed than they were in their early 20s and both have plenty of attributes that top flight teams are looking for. However, neither will look as strong or dominant next season against English football’s elite despite Leeds being statistically better at the back than Burnley with the duo.
That is why competition for places is needed. Rodon is a pure defender who loves to dominate the box, while Struijk is the classier of the pair on the ball and more effective set-piece threat. Rodon could be a player to build around, given his availability and durability.
That said, they complement one another well in terms of strengths and weaknesses, but Bijol ought to be signed for the marginal gains around set-pieces that he will bring. That is also one of Struijk’s most important roles for Leeds and so Rodon could be the man to drop out when looking at partnerships.
That isn’t to say he wouldn’t have a huge role and that the 27-year-old wouldn’t feature plenty, but that Struijk and Bijol perhaps makes slightly more sense alongside one another. Farke and co. have plenty of food for thought in a number of positions — and centre-back is just one of them.
