Leeds have actually agreed lower fee than initially thought for Pascal Struijk exit
Pascal Struijk is edging closer to leaving Leeds United after Brighton agreed a fee to buy him this summer.
The 26-year-old has been a key player for Leeds over the last few years, making 196 appearances in total since joining the Yorkshire club in 2020 and playing 34 times in the Premier League last term.
However, despite his importance in helping Daniel Farke's side avoid relegation back to the Championship, Struijk now seems to have played his final game for the Whites.
On Saturday, it was reported that Leeds accepted an offer from Brigthon which would see Struijk leave Elland Road in a £20million deal.
Struijk had apparently been offered a new contract by Leeds, but the Dutch centre-back has instead opted to push for a move away.
It's a gutting blow for Leeds fans. However, it's since been reported that the fee accepted for Struijk is lower than what was initially claimed.
The up-front fee and add-ons revealed to be less than £20m
It's already a sucker punch to be losing a player deemed as one of the best and most important in the squad.
It's also quite hard for a lot of Leeds fans to accept that Struijk is joining a club like Brighton - one with less history and a much smaller fanbase.
However, the Seagulls are a more established Premier League side now and also one that will be playing in the UEFA Conference League next season.
But what's even more difficult to stomach now is that the overall deal that sees Struijk move to the AMEX Stadium totals only £18m.
According to independent journalist Charlie Parker-Turner, who previously worked for The Express, Leeds have accepted an offer that sees Brighton pay an up-front fee of just £15m.
It is understood that the extra £3m will be paid in add-ons.
Parker-Turner also detailed on Sunday night the timeline of Struijk's move south, adding that the £18m deal should be completed in the coming days.
While Leeds are set to bank a significant amount of cash, replacing a left-footed centre-back as good as Struijk won't be straightforward.
Why this sale now leaves Leeds under pressure in the transfer market
With Struijk leaving, Farke isn't just losing a top-quality centre-back, he's also losing a leader and one of the more established voices in the Elland Road dressing room.
Filling that leadership void is going to be challenge number one, but the biggest challenge is going to be able to use the funds raised by selling him to sign someone just as good who fits his profile.
There's no doubt that the Whites will have irons in the fire when it comes to finding a replacement, with Portuguese defender Diogo Leite someone who has been linked this month.
He ticks multiple boxes because he's left-footed, he's 27 years old, he's got experience playing in a major European league and he'll be available on a free transfer this summer with his contract expiring at Union Berlin.
Journalist Rudy Galetti reported on X this month that Leeds are "pushing hard to enter the race" for the ex-Porto defender's signature.
The only questions raised by this are whether Leite is an improvement, and if he can step up to the leadership role that Struijk will be leaving vacant.