'A league I appreciate very much' - Leeds United target opens door to summer move as Daniel Farke's side prepare for Premier League return

Gudmundsson looks set to get his move to England via Leeds as Daniel Farke looks to strengthen his defence ahead of a return to the Premier League. The club will be desperate to avoid being sent straight back down to the Championship and believe that Gudmundsson can provide a strong option at left-back. Capped 15 times for Sweden and having made over 100 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lille, Gudmundsson is an experienced option and, with just a year left on his contract, looks set to move to Leeds in a cut-price deal.

Speaking about a potential switch, via the Yorkshire Post, Gudmundsson said: “I have been at Lille for four years and have one year left on my contract, so it is entirely reasonable that there is speculation.

“It has gone very well for me so it is no secret that things can happen this summer. I have ambitions to take a step, and we will see what happens. I can only say that [Leeds] is a good team that plays in the Premier League, a league and a country where I also have an ambition to one day play considering that I grew up watching that league. It’s a league that I appreciate very much.”

Signing a top left-back was one of Farke's priorities this summer as Junior Firpo left the club on a free transfer. Leaving the club on a high after a mixed spell since joining from Barcelona in 2021, the full-back is expected to return to his former club Real Betis. Firpo had been expected to leave when Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, but his decision to stay, and perform in the Championship, won over the Leeds faithful. Gudmundsson will now have big shoes to fill at Elland Road.

Leeds will look to seal the signing of Gudmundsson as soon as possible before switching to consider other targets. Farke has his eyes on Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz and Norwich and USMNT's Josh Sargent - both considered necessary upgrades on existing options Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford.