Leeds target World Cup centre-back Elvedi to fill Struijk void after £18m Brighton sale

Leeds United are targeting Borussia Mönchengladbach centre-back Nico Elvedi as a primary defensive recruit this summer, with manager Daniel Farke looking to fill the void left by Pascal Struijk’s £18m sale to Brighton. Struijk’s exit, sanctioned before 30 June to keep the club within Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules, has made the search for a new central defender more urgent.

Farke’s Leeds finished 14th in their first season back in the Premier League and also reached the FA Cup semi-final, with the club acknowledging that the stronger-than-expected campaign — combined with the single sale of Struijk — was sufficient to satisfy PSR requirements. In a statement, Leeds said: “Last summer, the decision was taken to keep all players at Elland Road to give the club the best possible chance of Premier League survival, with the expectation that player sales would be needed to remain PSR compliant over a three-year accounting window ending June 30.”

Even before Struijk’s departure, a new centre-back was high on Farke’s recruitment list following his effective mid-season tactical shift from a back four to a 3-5-2 system. Elvedi, 29, fits that profile closely. Capable of operating as the central anchor or on the right side of a back three, the Switzerland international recorded 271 clearances across 33 Bundesliga appearances last season and has caught the eye at this summer’s World Cup. Standing at 6ft 2in, he is considered well-suited to the physical demands of the Premier League.

Leeds are also actively seeking a new goalkeeper and a left-back to sharpen competition in those positions. The club has been linked with other defensive options, though Southampton are reportedly demanding around £30m for Shea Charles despite the Northern Ireland international having just one year left on his contract — a fee that would represent considerably poorer value than Elvedi is expected to command.

Struijk, who made 34 league appearances last season and was a key figure in Leeds’ survival bid, had been a fan favourite at Elland Road. His absence underlines the scale of the defensive rebuild Farke must complete before the new Premier League campaign begins.