Leeds United have been busy over the last few weeks after securing a place in the Premier League, with three new signings at Elland Road but plenty leaving after last season’s title-winning campaign.
Already, Leeds have waved goodbye to four senior players from Daniel Farke’s squad. Junior Firpo’s move to Real Betis is set to be announced, while Joe Rothwell has completed a permanent move to Rangers.
Josuha Guilavogui has been released and Max Wober has joined Werder Bremen on loan, Leeds choosing to sanction a temporary move rather than a permanent one and avoid a Profit & Sustainability Rules loss.
Meanwhile, The Whites have spent £20m on Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Lukas Nmecha, and now Graham Smyth says the club are closing in on their fourth signing of the window – their most important.
- READ MORE: Leeds could still sign Aston Villa player even after agreeing left-back deal
Leeds close in on deal to sign Lille’s Gabriel Gudmundsson
Leeds have been linked with a move for Sweden international Gudmundsson for weeks and now, it seems The Whites are poised to do a deal. Smyth says Gudmundsson could even arrive at Leeds on Sunday.
He said, on X: “Leeds United are now close to a deal with Lille for left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson. Understand he could arrive in England tomorrow as talks continue. Leeds saying nothing on it right now.”
All three signings have been important. Leeds needed to sort out centre-back, and Jaka Bijol allows Ethan Ampadu in midfield, covering the injury prone Pascal Struijk. Bornauw replaced Wober as cover at Leeds.
With Joe Rodon, Leeds have four top-tier giants at centre-back. Nmecha provides some top-tier quality up top, something a bit different which was required. But Gudmundsson is more important than those.
Gudmundsson fills Junior Firpo void, Leeds may need more
If Leeds hadn’t signed Bijol or Bornauw, they would have still had Struijk and Ampadu and Wober would have been kept. Obviously, Leeds have improved their options – but Farke’s squad still had options.
Up top, Nmecha joins a list of strikers also bolstered by the returning Joe Gelhardt. Five in total. But with Firpo returning to Betis, Leeds actually lacked a natural left-back and that makes Gudmundsson crucial.
It is unclear if Sam Byram has joined and if so, Leeds need another left-sided defender and perhaps, it would make sense to do one even if Byram does stay. Leeds have dropped a Byram hint on their site.
But Gudmundsson looks set to join Leeds and in one pivotal way, he becomes the most-crucial of all four signings so far simply because, Leeds and Farke don’t have a left-back to choose from as things stand.
