Leeds United Sebastiaan Bornauw transfer developments are gathering pace as FC Köln continue to position themselves for a late January move, with Leeds United clearly unwilling to sanction any exit until a replacement is secured.
According to BILD, Cologne have not abandoned hope of bringing the Belgian defender back to Germany before the transfer window shuts. However, this is shaping up to be a deal that drags deep into the final days.
Although Bornauw was initially seen as an emergency solution for Köln’s defensive crisis, the urgency around the move has softened in recent weeks. Injuries within their squad have eased slightly, allowing the Bundesliga side to bide their time.
Leeds United Sebastiaan Bornauw transfer situation remains tense
The reality for Bornauw at Elland Road has been far from ideal. While the defender found himself unexpectedly required around the turn of the year, that opportunity has quickly faded. He has now returned to a fringe role, with substitute appearances reportedly doing little to improve his morale.
BILD describe those cameo outings as moments that would have “felt like humiliations” for the player, increasing his frustration and making a departure increasingly appealing.
Despite this, Leeds United are refusing to be rushed. The club hierarchy are determined not to weaken their squad depth without securing cover first, particularly given the physical demands of the Premier League.
Leeds prioritise replacement before allowing exit
This cautious stance has been publicly reinforced by Leeds sporting director Thomas Kessler. Speaking recently, he admitted the club still have time to manoeuvre and are prepared to wait until the final stages of the window.
“We still have just under two weeks,” Kessler explained. “We’ve already initiated a few things, but there’s always a club involved that might change their mind at the last moment.”
Those comments underline Leeds United’s strategy: identify a suitable alternative first, then revisit Bornauw’s future once the squad balance feels right.
This mirrors the approach Leeds have taken in other situations, including the ongoing discussions surrounding Maximilian Wöber’s Leeds United transfer situation, where patience has remained the dominant theme.
Why FC Köln are willing to wait
From Köln’s perspective, a late move could actually work in their favour. With Leeds under pressure to offload fringe players before the deadline, the German side believe they can strike once circumstances align.
Bornauw himself would reportedly “readily agree” to a return to Germany, having previously enjoyed a strong spell in the Bundesliga. However, without Leeds moving decisively in the market, the defender’s hands remain tied.
That uncertainty has forced Köln to monitor alternative options, though Bornauw remains very much on their shortlist.
Late twist expected in January window
All signs point towards a dramatic end-of-window scenario. Leeds United are clearly not opposed to the Leeds United Sebastiaan Bornauw transfer happening, but they are intent on doing things on their own terms.
With other Bundesliga clubs also aware of Bornauw’s availability, Köln will need to tread carefully to avoid being gazumped at the final hurdle.
For now, the Belgian defender remains in limbo — caught between a club ready to wait and a parent side determined to secure reinforcements first. As January edges closer to its conclusion, this is one transfer saga that looks set to go right down to the wire.
