Leeds United in advanced talks to sign Leicester City star James Justin | OneFootball

The 27-year-old may be set for a move back to the Premier League this summer

Premier League new boys Leeds United are looking to bolster their backline this summer, and are closing in on a move to sign Leicester City full-back James Justin.

This is per a report from TalkSport, who believe that talks are "advancing" between the two parties.

Defensive additions have been the main focus for Leeds as they embark on their first season back in the top flight after a couple of years away, and have identified the 27-year-old as a new target who can operate in both full-back positions.

Justin, who is estimated to earn £30k-a-week at the King Power, captained the Foxes in their Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday, but a move back to the Premier League may entice the full-back to end his six-year stay at the King Power Stadium.

Leeds United look to add James Justin as Premier League season looms

Alex Crook on X has revealed that Leeds are advancing on one-time England international Justin, who has been a consistent part of the Foxes side over the past couple of seasons under Enzo Maresca, Steve Cooper and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The 27-year-old captained the side in Sunday's win over Sheffield Wednesday in the absence of new captain Ricardo Pereira, which highlights his importance to the Championship club.

However, Leeds are in desperate need of full-back competition, with only Sam Bryam and Isaac Schmidt set to battle Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson for the position currently.

Being able to operate on both sides of the back line, Justin would prove a valuable asset for a Leeds side desperate to stay up in their first season back in the Premier League since the 2022/23 campaign.

Last season, Justin made 36 Premier League appearances, which followed on from a 39-appearance Championship season, so fitness now doesn't seem to be an issue for the 27-year-old, who suffered both a serious knee and Achilles injury within the space of a year-and-a-half back a few years back.

If a move were to go through, Justin would become the fourth player to depart Leicester for a fee this summer, after Mads Hermansen, Wilfried Ndidi and Conor Coady all left the club before the beginning of the new season.

Losing James Justin would be a big blow for Leicester City

After the departures of Ndidi and Jamie Vardy this summer, Justin is now the third-longest serving current player in the Leicester squad. Only Ricardo Pereira and Hamza Choudhury have been at the club longer.

Justin has won an FA Cup and a Championship title with the Foxes, and last season proved his worth in the Premier League in an otherwise poor Leicester squad.

At 27, the former Luton Town man will have come into the 2025/26 season as one of the second tier's premier defenders, so it is no surprise that he has attracted interest from sides in the division above.