Leeds United could face a battle to keep hold of a key player this summer amid attention from elsewhere
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Leeds United are currently battling to preserve their Premier League status. They in 16th place in the table with seven fixtures left to play as they fight against the likes of Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham for survival - but whether they maintain their top-flight status or not, they could face another battle in the summer, this time to keep hold of a key defender.
New reports suggest that several rival sides are beginning to show interest in Pascal Struijk, a core member of defensive unit which has been key to keep the Whites’ noses above the bottom three so far. But will the Swiss centre-back move on this summer, or can Leeds keep hold of him?
Leeds defender Pascal Struijk attracting interest from Spurs, Newcastle & Aston Villa
Leeds could face a battle to keep hold of Struijk this summer regardless of what division they find themselves in. According to Sports Boom, he is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Aston Villa. The report adds that his price tag is around the £30m mark.
Struijk, 26, is under contract with the Whites until June 2027. Therefore he still has over 12 months left to run down with his current club. They risk losing him for free next year if he doesn’t pen an extension anytime soon, however, which limits Leeds’ negotiating room if bids do come in.
The centre-back could be seen by Spurs as someone to bolster their defensive department. They are at serious risk of slipping into the second tier, however, an eventuality which would surely rule them out of the reckoning. That could give Newcastle and Aston Villa an advantage in this particular pursuit - but how likely is that Struijk departs?
Will Leeds be able to keep hold of Struijk this summer?
Staying up would significantly boost Leeds’ hopes of retaining the services of Struijk. Farke’s men are putting in some battling performances at the moment and also have hopes of reaching the final four of the FA Cup. They are struggling for goals at the top end of the pitch right now, however, and that is something that needs to improve to ensure their survival.
Struijk has been on the Whites’ books since 2018. Prior to his move to England, he had spells at ADO Den Haag and Ajax. He has since risen up through the academy ranks at Elland Road and he was a regular at various different youth levels before making the step up into their first-team.
The ex-Holland youth international, who is yet to make a senior cap, made his debut in December 2019 in a league fixture against Hull City. He hasn’t looked back since and he has made 186 appearances in all competitions, 27 of which have come this term, and he has scored 14 goals.
Much will depend on whether Leeds can persuade Struijk to resist the opportunity to take up a new challenge and sign a new contract, a necessity if they are to keep hold of him - should Struijk wish to leave, regardless of Leeds’ final table position, there will be little that the club can do but sell and make some money from a player who would otherwise leave for free in the near future. With so little leverage available, the ball is in Struijk’s court - and there is sufficient interest to turn his head.