Leeds United are planning to strengthen their midfield with two arrivals in a £45 million double swoop, it has been claimed.

Daniel Farke is keen to bolster his squad ahead of their opening Premier League fixture against Everton on Monday, August 18. The Whites travel to Arsenal and host Newcastle United before the September international break.

Before the start of the season, there is work to be done in the summer transfer window. So far, the Whites have made one first-team addition in the form of Lukas Nmecha, who arrived on a free transfer from Wolfsburg.

A deal for Jaka Bijol is said to be close, with the Udinese centre-back passing his Leeds medical on Wednesday. The Whites are expected to pay a fee in the region of £19m for the Slovenian.

After that is done, Leeds want to target the midfield area. The Whites were interested in a move for Emiliano Buendia in January, but the Argentine instead signed for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Buendia struggled during his loan at Leverkusen and Aston Villa have told him he can leave the club on a permanent deal this summer. Unai Emery's side want £20m to sanction his exit, according to Caught Offside. Leeds remain interested in Buendia and could now secure a long-term target.

Buendia, who worked with Farke at Norwich City, is seen as a possible upgrade to Brenden Aaronson in the No.10 shirt. When Buendia, 28, and Farke led the Canaries to the Championship title in 2020/21, the Villa man netted 15 goals and provided 16 assists in 41 games, winning the division's Player of the Season.

Elsewhere, Leeds have been offered a major boost in the race for Habib Diarra. Although the Whites have seen one offer worth £21m rejected by Strasbourg, the club's president offered a positive update on Wednesday and admitted the Senegal midfielder, 21, can leave in the summer transfer window.

"There's one player who's due to leave based on a promise I made to him two years ago: our captain, Habib Diarra," Strasbourg chief Marc Keller said on RMC's After Foot show this week.

"When he extended his contract, we told him he was extending it, but that he wouldn't leave until June 2025. So if we get an interesting offer for him and for us, he could leave."

While Leeds' initial offer of £21m was turned down, it's understood an offer of £25m will convince them to sell. Diarra scored for Senegal during a 3-1 win against England last week.

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