Pascal Struijk exit could crush Leeds United promotion hopes as fresh transfer news emerges
Leeds United could well be in for a crushing promotion blow in January if Pascal Struijk is allowed to leave after another fresh exit news.
Dutch news outlet Voetbal Nieuws (20 November) have reported that Belgian outfit Club Brugge have identified the Leeds defender as the perfect candidate to strengthen their squad in January.
The report shares that Struijk is said to meet “all the criteria” that Brugge are looking for, “both mentally and sportingly”, as they hunt for a new “defensive leader”.
The Whites defender has been linked with a move to the Belgian club in a deal worth around £13.1m after they failed with an attempt to convince Leeds to let him leave in the summer.
Speaking on the Unibet Belgium YouTube channel on Wednesday (15 November), former RMC journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealed that the 24-year-old is “interested” in a move to Club Brugge ahead of the January transfer window.
He said the Belgian side have maintained their interest from the summer in the Whites centre-back, who could be available for £13.1million after his “price has gone down” from the £15.7million he was previously valued at.
While Leeds’ financial position would be strengthened by such a transfer figure, there is no doubt that it could potentially crush their promotion hopes if they were to lose the Belgian midway through the season.
The Dutchman was one of the few first-team players who decided to remain at Elland Road from the side that was relegated from the Premier League last year.
The defender has been a standout in the heart of the Whites’ defence during this campaign after building up a solid partnership with Joe Rodon.
The pair have helped their side record the joint-second-best defensive record in the Championship, having conceded just 16 goals in as many games.
Struijk featured in every league match up until the 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday (11 November) after undergoing an operation to deal with a hernia problem.
Not only has the Dutchman excelled in his defending but also in his ball progression from the back which has handed the Whites a totally new dimension under Farke’s management, currently ranking in the 95th percentile of centre-backs in Europe’s next 14 leagues after the top for progressive passes per 90 and in the 92nd percentile for pass completion % per 90 [FBRef].
Such characteristics will certainly have a number of Premier League clubs on alert for his services but with four years remaining on his deal at Elland Road, any potential suitor will certainly need to pay the big bucks to acquire him in January.
However, it would be more costly to lose him than to accept a big-money fee should he leave in the winter. A decision which could arrest all the brilliant work Farke has done building this side after such a tough summer of recruitment.
In other Leeds United news, a player who snubbed a move to Elland Road has raved about Farke after what he did.