Exclusive:Leeds United warned of Pascal Struijk 'risk' amid Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham links
Leeds United warned of Pascal Struijk risk amid links to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and more
Leeds United have been warned it would be a risk to sell “captain-esque” defender Pascal Struijk.
The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of his senior career on the books at Elland Road having arrived from Ajax’s academy as a teenager in 2018.
He finished his footballing education at Thorp Arch, eventually graduating from the youth set-up into the senior squad. A former Netherlands youth international, Struijk has amassed a total of 193 appearances across all competitions for the Whites.
There has recently been talk of interest from Premier League rivals, with Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham among those to have been linked.
However, former Whites winger Jermaine Pennant believes it would be a risk to part with Struijk this summer.
Jermaine Pennant’s Pascal Struijk verdict
He told The Yorkshire Post: “He came from the academy, so there's a lot of profit you would get to sell him. I don't think you'd be selling him on the cheap.
“If there is a replacement who is just as good, who is a little bit cheaper, then I think that could be a good plan for business for the club. But in saying that, it's a risk.
“Players come to the Premier League who are not Premier League proven. We know that Struijk is now. We've seen it week-in, week-out, he's a very instrumental person in this Leeds team.
“He's like a captain-esque figure in that team. If you don't need to [sell], then in my eyes, you've got to keep him. But if you're struggling for PSR (profit and sustainability), then it's not a bad idea.”
Competition for minutes in Leeds United’s defence
Struijk saw competition for minutes at centre-back intensified last summer, when Leeds struck deals to sign Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw from Udinese and Wolfsburg respectively.
Neither of those players have made as many appearances as Struijk has this term, although Bijol has seen considerably more action than Bornauw.
Reports have indicated Leeds are desperate to retain Struijk, a player they have invested plenty into over the years. The club have nurtured him from an unproven and raw prospect into an established first-team figure.
Leeds United’s fight for Premier League survival
The Whites will be less vulnerable to bids if they manage to retain their Premier League status, a feat they are incredibly close to achieving.
Regarding Leeds’ survival hopes, Pennant said: “They've cemented that (safety). I think that win at Manchester United was absolutely humongous.
“I can't see the teams around them winning more than what Leeds will do in the next four or five games - especially at Elland Road as well. I think, in my eyes, 90 per cent Leeds United will be playing in the Premier League next season.
“I think that is the be-all and end-all. If they win that, they're safe. Leeds could easily go on and draw the rest of their games and be safe. The teams around them are not firing. They're going to drop points themselves.
“West Ham have got Arsenal, they're not going to get points there. If I'm in the Leeds dressing room, I'm not really worried about relegation. I really don't think they're going to [go down]. A win or draw against Burnley, I think would be good enough.”