Credit: Imago

Aheed Abrar

Tue 31 March 2026 8:10, UK

Leeds United can’t allow Pascal Struijk to leave in the upcoming transfer window.

The Whites are in uncertain times right now, with several stars’ futures, including that of the 26-year-old centre-back, potentially hinging on the Premier League relegation battle.

If the West Yorkshire outfit go down, the likes of the Dutch defender will surely want to leave and play in Europe’s top flight.

There’s also the possibility that the Peacocks will receive offers for their best players even if they secure their Premier League status, but they must surely resist cashing in on some of them.

Daniel Farke will deserve backing from 49ers Enterprises if he succeeds this season and part of the summer transfer plan should focus on tying someone like Struijk to a new contract.

Pascal Struijk ability hard to replicate at Leeds United

Farke likes his centre-backs to play the ball out from the back and there aren’t many defenders capable of doing so, even in the current era.

Struijk is one of the few who are comfortable on the ball with decent technical ability, completing 88 per cent of his passes, 48.9 on average per game, in the Premier League this season and playing 2.1 accurate long balls per game, as per Sofascore.

The Dutch national has also registered a league assist in the current campaign, and has created one big chance and missed four big opportunities, highlighting his threat at times in the opposition box.

Struijk has put in good defensive shifts in the English top flight, keeping five clean sheets, winning 1.1 tackles, recovering the ball 3.6 times, making 6.4 clearances and winning 5.1 duels per game.

Comparatively, Jaka Bijol has completed 34.7 passes on average per game in 18 Premier League appearances with 85 per cent accuracy, and that drops to 9.1 with a 67 per cent success rate in the opposition half.

Who could pursue Pascal Struijk at Elland Road?

Several top Premier League teams could surely do with someone like Struijk in their ranks, whose current contract expires in 2027.

If Tottenham Hotspur survive relegation, they may look towards Leeds to bolster their backline, with the likes of Chelsea also in clear need of defensive reinforcements.

Liverpool and Newcastle United could also potentially be in the market for a new centre-back soon and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them turn their attention to the Dutch defender.

Struijk’s situation at Elland Road will be worth watching closely as the West Yorkshire outfit are in for a nervy summer.