AdminNumerous acquisitions are undoubtedly on the horizon as Leeds courageously steps up to a new league.
Leeds identifies £12m star as a key target
It’s fair to assert that the Whites have encountered challenges in the transfer market thus far, particularly with key midfield target Habib Diarra opting for Sunderland, where he secured a club-record £30m deal.
Given this recent setback, they may revisit Ligue 1 to pursue another signing.
Elland Road is guaranteed to be filled to capacity when Everton makes their way across West Yorkshire for Leeds United’s eagerly awaited Premier League kickoff.
Daniel Farke’s squad is expected to showcase several new players as they begin the top-flight season, with Jaka Bijol set to make an impression during pre-season in hopes of earning a starting position, joined by fellow newcomer Lukas Nmecha.
Indeed, according to a recent report from French source L’Equipe, Leeds has taken a strong interest in acquiring Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri at a bargain this summer.
Lyon is likely to lose its best assets following their relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial woes, and the Whites have made the Brazilian shot-stopper a primary target to enhance their goalkeeper choices as they move up a level.
Leeds might possess an advantage in securing the Brazilian if they remain resolute in their preference for him as their go-to keeper, with Saudi club Neom also expressing interest in the 27-year-old ‘keeper amidst speculation of a £12m offer possibly being presented.
Farke and his team would readily invest such a sum, considering Bijol is only £3m more expensive to acquire from Udinese, as the newly promoted club continues to scout Europe for hidden talent.
How Perri could be Bijol 2.0
This transfer approach is not a recent development for Leeds; remember that Raphinha was initially bought for just £17m when departing Rennes in 2020.
The Brazilian’s subsequent journey has become part of football’s lore, and Bijol aims to make a similar impact upon his arrival in England, becoming a composed and confident player at the highest level of the Premier League.
His impressive statistics while performing in Serie A suggest he will thrive at Elland Road, as the Slovenian powerhouse averaged 4.8 duels won per game in the Italian top-tier last season, along with eight clean sheets.
Consequently, acquiring the 26-year-old for £15m could prove to be a remarkable bargain if he becomes a standout success story in West Yorkshire, especially with the additional recruitment of Perri potentially strengthening Farke’s side even further as they prepare for a challenging season ahead.
| Perri’s Ligue 1 numbers for Lyon (24/25) | |
|---|---|
| Stat (* = per game_ | Perri |
| Games played | 33 |
| Goals conceded | 44 |
| Clean sheets | 10 |
| Saves* | 3.5 |
| Goals conceded* | 1.3 |
| Goals prevented | +6.05 |
| Stats by Sofascore | |
Similar to Bijol, Perri consistently excelled in a top-five league throughout the previous season, even as off-pitch disruptions threatened to impact the on-pitch performance, achieving an impressive total of +6.05 goals prevented over his 33 league appearances.
To highlight the improvement he would represent, Illan Meslier’s performance in that same area registered at -2.73 goals prevented.
Having been praised as “the best goalkeeper in the world” by manager Paolo Fonseca earlier this season, pursuing Perri as a replacement for the inconsistent Meslier seems like an obvious move for Leeds, especially given Lyon’s financial challenges.
Naturally, both transfers could potentially backfire, with the defensive pair struggling to adapt to their new environments.
However, considering their strong performances in demanding European leagues thus far, acquiring both Bijol and Perri could well be recognized as a stroke of brilliance in the future.
