Pontus Jansson’s permanent transfer from Torino to Leeds United will finally be completed this week, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim that the Sweden international, 26, is to formally seal a move that has been in the offing since agreeing terms with the Championship club back in early February.
The transfer hit a stumbling block when Torino lodged a formal complaint to world governing body FIFA over delayed payments from Leeds.
But it was reported earlier this month that the investigation had been settled after Leeds moved to pay an initial instalment of the fee, which the Sun and many other media outlets have reported will cost £3.5million.
Jansson had an outstanding season-long loan at Elland Road in 2016-17 and Leeds announced that he had agreed and signed a three-year contract that would come into effect from this summer.
The giant centre-back had a clause in his contract which stated he could the second-tier club permanently in the summer if he surpassed 22 appearances for them, something he did comfortably by playing 36 times.
The reportedly imminent confirmation of the permanent signing of the defender will be regarded as a huge boost to supporters given how popular Jansson became during his debut campaign.
He was a central figure in the club’s revival that culminated in a seventh-placed league finish after they challenged strongly for a play-off place.
Jansson was included in the EFL Championship team of the year after striking up a formidable centre-back partnership with fellow loanee Kyle Bartley, who has subsequently returned to his parent club Swansea.
It means that Jansson and Liam Cooper are currently the only senior centre-backs at the club, with new manager Thomas Christiansen expected to strengthen in that position before the summer transfer window shuts.