The club now want to hand the ‘special’ player a new contract to prevent Leeds United from signing him

Although members of Leeds’ recruitment team are with the rest of the squad, Daniel Farke is clearly focused on his work on the training ground as well as the two friendlies.

However, that doesn’t mean work isn’t going on behind the scenes and bosses have been seen holding conversations with Farke, presumably about transfers.

Farke is still keen to add more players to his squad and with two weeks until they face Portsmouth on the opening day, he will want them by then.

FC Koln’s position on Leeds target Dejan Ljubicic has been revealed

Leeds have spent around £15m on transfer fees so far this summer, but that figure is expected to rise before the end of the window.

Midfield remains a top priority for Leeds after losing both Glen Kamara and Archie Gray, and they have made moves to strengthen that position this week.

Leeds have seen a £3.3m bid rejected by FC Koln for Austria international midfielder Dejan Ljubicic, who appears to be Farke’s number one target so far.

Leeds are expected to make a new offer before the end of the weekend, but according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Patrick Berger, Koln want to keep him.

The ‘special’ Ljubicic has less than 12 months left in Cologne but Berger claim they are keen to give him a new one, which the 26-year-old has given no indication he will sign.

Greek side PAOK have also been named as a potential interested club, but Leeds are the only ones to have made a bid so far.

Leeds have been tracking Ljubicic for 12 months

According to journalist Nancy Froston, Ljubicic is a player Leeds have been tracking over the past year, which coincides with Farke being appointed.

Farke has already used the Bundesliga to strengthen his squad as Leeds manager and Froston says it is a good time to move for Ljubicic because of his contract situation.

She said: “I think he can play that more defensive role, he filled in at times for Cologne last season, but there’s not such a pressing need for him to play that role for Leeds.

“He’s an Austrian international, with a good height at 6ft2 and 26. It seems that Leeds have been chasing him for a little while, maybe even a year, and now they’ve got him. Looking at the contract situation, it’s a smart time to do it.”

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