Leeds United may be closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window as they pursue a deal for Udinese central defender Jaka Bijol.

The Athletic reports that the clubs are in talks over a deal that could be worth up to £15.2m for the Slovenia international to make the move to Elland Road in the coming weeks.

It is claimed that the Championship champions are 'optimistic' about getting a deal over the line for the Serie A centre-back to bolster Daniel Farke's options at the back ahead of a season in the Premier League.

The Athletic adds, however, that the club are less hopeful of a move to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, despite placing a bid worth £22m in for the Senegal international.

This suggests that Diarra, who scored against England at the City Ground on Tuesday night, is unlikely to make the move to Elland Road this summer, whereas Bijol could be added to the squad.

What Habib Diarra could bring to Leeds

Missing out on a deal for the Senegal international could be a blow for the West Yorkshire outfit because the central midfielder has shown plenty of promise with his performances in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg.

Diarra ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of four goals and five assists in 30 matches in the French top-flight, which shows that he can make a decent impact at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position.

This, along with his performance against England, suggests that the 21-year-old star could bring a threat in front of goal for the Whites in the Premier League, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

However, Diarra's play out of possession does leave a bit to be desired and there would be concerns over his suitability defensively to the physical demands of the Premier League.

As you can see in the table above, the Strasbourg star lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air in Ligue 1 this season, whilst only making 1.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

The central midfielder's three errors that directly led to shots also suggest that he can be wasteful on the ball in his own third, as his sloppy passing was punished by opposition teams at times.

Diarra, therefore, may not be the perfect option for Leeds this summer because he would not bring defensive strength to go along with his technical qualities at the top end of the pitch.

This is why it should come as good news to supporters that the Whites are reportedly eyeing up another midfield star who would be even better than the Strasbourg ace.

Leeds eyeing deal for £25m midfielder

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Rangers central midfielder Nicolas Raskin in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Championship champions, established Premier League side Aston Villa, Porto, Marseille, and Fiorentina are all interested in signing the Belgium international to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

It states that Leeds have a long-standing interest in the Rangers star, which dates back to his time at Standard Liege in 2022, and that they view him as a perfect fit for Farke's midfield in the top-flight next season.

TEAMtalk adds that the Scottish giants are keen to get maximum value out of the Belgian dynamo and are ready to demand a fee of up to £25m for the 24-year-old star.

Leeds must, now, push to win the race for the Scottish Premiership starlet because he could be an even better signing than Diarra this summer.

Why Leeds should sign Nicolas Raskin

The Rangers star would be a better addition for Farke to bolster his midfield options because he offers more both in and out of possession in comparison to the Senegal international.

Unlike Diarra, Raskin constantly looks to win possession back for his side with tackles and interceptions, making 5.0 tackles and interceptions combined in 12 appearances in the Europa League this season.

The 24-year-old ace, as shown in the clip above, can also step up to provide goals and assists when called upon, though, and is more than just a midfield destroyer.

Raskin ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of five goals and 11 assists in all competitions for the Light Blues, which suggests that he can offer a big threat in front of goal, particularly as a creator.

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfield maestro outperformed Diarra at league level this season with his contributions at both ends of the pitch as a number eight.

These statistics suggest that Raskin, once hailed as "unbelievable" by ex-Rangers forward Kris Boyd, would offer far more to Leeds in midfield due to his ability to combine attacking flair with defensive steel.

For a fee of just £3m more than the £22m they bid for Diarra, Leeds could land a bargain by signing the Gers midfielder for £25m before the end of the summer window to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Whilst both players are unproven in the Premier League to date, Raskin has showcased his defensive qualities on the European stage in the Europa League and still has time left on his side to develop further at the age of 24.

With the available evidence from the 2024/25 campaign, though, it would appear as though the Rangers star would be a significantly better signing than Diarra, which is why the club should pursue a deal for him over the Strasbourg ace.