It is now not long until Premier League football returns to Leeds.
After 16 years away from the top flight, Leeds United have just two further weeks to wait until their first game. The Whites face Premier League Champions Liverpool at Anfield in what could prove to be the toughest test of the season.
Though there is a great amount of excitement surrounding Elland Road at the moment, there are a few concerns about the lack of strength in depth head coach Marcelo Bielsa currently has at his disposal, particularly at centre-back.
The Whites, who have secured seven summer signings so far, though four of them are expected to link-up with the Under-23s squad before testing themselves at first-team level, are desperate to add a new defender to their armoury following Ben White's return to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The former Newport County loanee spent last season on loan at Elland Road and made a real name for himself, so much so that he is now being linked with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as a return to West Yorkshire.
But with Brighton reluctant to losing him this summer, as well as demanding a hefty-sized transfer fee, Leeds may be forced to take their central-defensive search elsewhere.
And one man that has been regularly linked with a move to Elland Road in recent months is SC Freiburg defender Robin Koch, who is poised to be a far cheaper option than White.
With that in mind, here is a round-up of everything we know so far about Koch's future and Leeds' interest in him.
Bielsa plots £20m move
Marcelo Bielsa - the Leeds head coach - is ready to launch a £20m bid for Germany international Koch this summer, The Sun claims.
With Brighton not expected to budge with their stance of White not being for sale, Koch could be a much cheaper alternative for Leeds to look at.
But Bielsa is not alone in showing an interest in Koch, with Tottenham, RB Leipzig and Italian outfit Lazio all interested.
Koch is the perfect alternative to White
Though every centre-back's ultimate aim is to defend, Koch would be a suitable replacement for White one reason in particular.
On occasions last season, White would step out of central-defence and play the role as a sitting midfielder in Bielsa's preferred 4-1-4-1 formation.
And it has emerged that Koch is also capable of doing exactly that, with his flexibility to operate in those two roles potentially fitting Bielsa's criteria.
As well as that, Koch is also capable of playing long-balls out from the back, which could be a style of play Leeds need to adapt to in the Premier League.
Read our full analysis by clicking here.
Koch comment on future
The defender has given an update on his future, refusing to rule out a move away from Freiburg this summer.
"I’m still here and I’m the type that I let all of this come my way and don’t worry too much about it," he told Kicker.
"That’s why it all fits."
Whites close in on £13m move
Leeds United are close to agreeing a fee with Freiburg for the defender, according to latest reports.
The Athletic claim that the two clubs are edging closer to reaching an agreement over the transfer.
A fee in the region of £13 million is being discussed by both clubs.
