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Report: Leeds prepared to pay £20m for defensive target Robin Koch

Dom Toner

Sat 22 August 2020 7:15, UK

Leeds United have reportedly decided they want defender Robin Koch from German top-flight club Freiburg, as their pursuit of Brighton’s Ben White continues to fail.

, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa is now looking at Koch as an alternative option to White and the club are prepared to pay £20million for his signature.

It is understood that Bielsa is a big fan of the ball-playing defender, but he’s also attracting interest this summer from Tottenham, Newcastle United, Lazio and RB Leipzig.

The report explains that Bundesliga outfit Freiburg want to cash in on the centre-back, as his current deal with them expires in 2021.

Koch, 24, is a centre-back by trade that enjoyed a brilliant individual campaign last year and similarly to Brighton’s White he’s got the versatility to slot into a deeper midfield role if required.

He has earned two senior international caps for Germany and it looks like he’s got the physicality and footballing brain to be a success if he does move to English football.

TBR’s View:

With Brighton refusing to budge over White, Leeds can’t afford to wait much longer if they want to sign a top qualify centre-back ahead of the new Premier League season which starts on 12 September.

White was phenomenal in the last campaign during a loan spell at Elland Road and pivotal in the club earning promotion as Championship title-winners, but supporters could get excited about target Koch.

The German helped Freiburg to an eight-placed finish in the Bundesliga last season and on paper will fit Bielsa’s system perfectly with his composure on possession.

Meanwhile, Spurs could do with centre-back reinforcements following the exit of senior man Jan Vertonghen from the backline and Newcastle play with a three at the back system that could really suit him.