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Leeds United transfer latest as potential defender exit fuels new summer priority Leeds United appear close to sanctioning the exit of a senior squad member. Leeds United defender Sebastiaan Bornauw could temporarily leave Elland Road just 13 months after arriving from Germany. Bornauw joined Leeds from VfL Wolfsburg in a £5.1million deal last July, signing a four-year contract. The Belgian played 12 Premier League games last season but only five were from the start, all of which came when options further up the pecking order were unavailable through injury or suspension. As reported by The Athletic, Bundesliga outfit Hamburg are confident of getting a deal over the line for Bornauw as they look to add defensive experience. The YEP understands an initial loan deal for the 27-year-old could be sanctioned, which would include HSV holding an option to make the move permanent. Leeds have already waved a permanent goodbye to one defender, with Pascal Struijk joining Brighton and Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £20m earlier this summer. He was eventually replaced by £34m Bosnian Tarik Muharemovic who has settled into the team with relative comfort. Bornauw has been a regular feature in Leeds’ pre-season, starting in the absence of Jaka Bijol and looking impressive. He played the first 60-minute period of Saturday’s 2-0 win over RB Leipzig at Elland Road alongside Muharemovic and Joe Rodon, with Bijol getting his first summer minutes after the break. Asked after that win whether he envisaged any current first-team players leaving, Farke said: “We will see. So far, no one has knocked on my door in order to say that he really wants to leave. It's also not that the group is too big at the moment. So let's see what happens once we edge closer to the start. “Perhaps also after the first one or two games, a few players are perhaps a bit more disappointed, then it’s more likely that someone would knock at my door. But it seems like everyone is in a good mood and everyone is happy so far and for that I'm happy with all my boys. I bring them all my respect and all my workload.” Should Bornauw depart Leeds this summer, defensive reinforcements will once again become a priority for Elland Road recruitment chiefs. Farke’s current decision to play a back three means the Belgian is his only natural cover for all three centre-back positions, albeit full-back James Justin can also move into a more central role. But with Gabriel Gudmundsson sidelined for around three weeks due to a hamstring injury and no left-footed full-back cover Justin is needed out wide. Bornauw’s potential exit would therefore leave Leeds down to the bare bones defensively with less than two weeks until the 2026/27 Premier League campaign kicks off at Nottingham Forest.