The acquisition of a central defender is a major priority for Sassuolo, and the club is considering Union SG's Belgian centre-back, Fedde Leysen. Initial contacts have been made for the player, who was born in 2003 and has been monitored by Francesco Palmieri. However, the negotiations have not yet entered an advanced stage, and Leysen is not the only defensive profile being evaluated by the club. Leysen joined Union SG in July 2023, has two caps for the Belgium U21 team, and is under contract until 2029. Bologna has also been linked with the defender. According to reports from June 2026, his potential transfer fee was placed between €10-€15 million. Transfermarkt estimates his current market value at €3.50m.