NafisaDaniel Farke has dropped a major transfer hint following Leeds United’s impressive pre-season victory over Augsburg, with one member of his squad now expected to leave Elland Road within the next 48 hours.
The Whites ended their preparations for the new Premier League campaign in style, producing an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Bundesliga side. But while supporters were celebrating another encouraging performance, significant business was taking place behind the scenes.
Farke’s comments after the final whistle suggested that Leeds are now on the brink of both an incoming and an outgoing transfer.
And the player whose future appears to have been decided is Sebastiaan Bornauw.
Daniel Farke drops huge Sebastiaan Bornauw hint
Bornauw was included in the Leeds squad for the Augsburg friendly but remained on the substitutes’ bench.
That decision became particularly interesting after Farke revealed that he had received information shortly before kick-off that something could happen with the Belgian defender.
The Leeds boss was subsequently asked about the developing situation and did little to hide the fact that Bornauw’s departure is now extremely close.
“We are pretty, pretty close that something happens,” Farke said.
“I got also the information just before kickoff that something could also happen also to Sebastiaan right now.”
Farke explained that Leeds deliberately kept the situation quiet so there would be no unnecessary distraction around the squad.
The manager’s decision to leave Bornauw on the bench suddenly made considerably more sense.
He then provided the clearest indication yet that the defender could be heading through the exit door very soon.
“It looks like it’s very likely that something will happen in the next hours or next 24 or 48 hours,” Farke added.
That is about as close as a manager can come to confirming an imminent transfer without officially announcing it.
Farke was, however, careful to stress that nothing should be treated as completed until all the necessary formalities are finished.
“I’m working too long in football, so I know that everything is just sealed when medical fields are done and everything is signed,” he said.
“I just speak about new players once they’re really official and not everything is settled.
“But I don’t want to lie, so we also expect that something will happen in the next 48 hours.”
Bornauw’s Leeds exit now looks imminent:
The developments come after Bornauw’s future at Elland Road had become increasingly uncertain.
The Belgium international joined Leeds last summer but struggled to establish himself as a regular under Farke, making only a handful of Premier League starts.
He has now emerged as a candidate to leave the club, with Hamburg understood to be interested in taking him back to Germany.
The player’s side is understood to be driving the possibility of a departure as he looks for more regular football.
Farke’s latest comments have now provided the biggest indication yet that the move is approaching its conclusion.
The timing is also significant because Leeds have already been working on the arrival of Nico Elvedi from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Nico Elvedi waiting in the wings
Leeds have been pursuing Elvedi as a potential replacement for Bornauw, with the experienced Switzerland international already agreeing personal terms on a contract running until 2029.
The 29-year-old is a familiar figure to Farke, having played under the German during his time managing Gladbach.
That makes the potential move particularly appealing for the Leeds boss, who knows exactly what Elvedi can offer.
Elvedi has spent more than a decade in German football and has accumulated extensive Bundesliga experience, while also featuring regularly for Switzerland.
Leeds’ pursuit of him has accelerated considerably in recent days, with Gladbach prepared to sanction his departure for the right price.
There is therefore a very obvious sequence developing at Elland Road: Bornauw leaves, Elvedi arrives.
Farke could soon have his fourth signing
If everything proceeds as expected, Elvedi would become Leeds’ fourth major signing of the summer.
The Whites have already brought in Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford as Farke continues to strengthen his squad following last season’s successful return to the Premier League.
The arrival of Elvedi would add another layer of experience to the defence, while Bornauw’s departure would create space for the new signing.
For now, though, Farke is refusing to declare anything officially completed.
His message is nevertheless clear.
Something is happening with Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Leeds expect a resolution within the next 24 to 48 hours.
After a 3-0 victory that has given supporters plenty to smile about, the biggest news may actually have come after the final whistle.
Nafisa
