The latest movement at Borussia Monchengladbach may spell good news for Leeds United and their pursuit of Swiss international defender Nico Elvedi.
As he strives to see Leeds promoted to the Premier League, Daniel Farke knows he has a squad selection battle on his hands with regards to defenders. Pascal Strujik, Joe Rodon and Max Wober remain the only first-team centre-backs in the Whites’ senior squad, with the latter missing a number of matches during the 2024/25 campaign.
This has seen transfer links to Elvedi, a player he worked with at Gladbach between 2022 and 2023, to emerge. At that time, the German said: “Nico Elvedi is an absolute leader for us. When he is at his best, he is one of the best central defenders in Europe. He has proven that over the years.”
Now Leeds’ chances of landing ‘one of the best in Europe’ appear to have increased this January. According to German publication Kicker, Gladbach are close to securing the signing of fellow central defender Kevin Diks from FC Copenhagen.
As explained by Leeds Live when the rumours first emerged on Elvedi – reported to have an £8.2m buyout clause in his two-and-a-half-year contract – it is the summer window which would appear the most likely time a move would happen. This latest update somewhat ratifies this.
This is because Diks is not signing for the Bundesliga side this January.
The agreement is said to be for July 1, so that the Indonesian international may join for free from the Danish league once his contract expires.
The fate of promotion at Elland Road will also play a huge factor in attracting the player.
The Whites currently sit second in the Championship table, two points below first-place Sheffield United and two ahead of third-place Sunderland, albeit having played one match fewer than both.
Last weekend Elvedi recently equalled Gladbach’s record for most appearances by a non-German player. He said : “That means a lot to me. It’s a special number.
“I hope, of course, that I can surpass Yann Sommer in the next game. In general, it makes me very proud and I will always remember it.”
Having been together since 2015, it is thought the Leeds target’s club would not stand in the way of his exit were an appropriate offer to arrive.
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