Leeds United‘s plans are already well underway when it comes to the business they are conducting in the summer transfer window.
Club captain Ethan Ampadu has already put pen to paper on a new long-term contract. United also remain in negotiations to extend multiple of Ampadu’s teammates’ deals, most notably Karl Darlow.
The Whites have also launched their first bid for one of the 49ers’ transfer targets, Shea Charles. The Southampton midfielder has reportedly been the subject of a bid in excess of £20million from Leeds.
However, there is one particular piece of business that Leeds legend Gary McAllister feels the 49ers must get done as soon as possible.
Gary McAllister believes Leeds United must attempt to keep Pascal Struijk
As the days go by, we have still not had any meaningful update on Pascal Struijk’s contract situation.
As it stands, the Dutchman is about to enter the final year of his deal. With Struijk turning 27 in August, he has to decide whether he wants to commit the prime years of his career to United or look to move on.
From a Leeds perspective, we simply cannot lose a player of Struijk’s quality on a free. So, if the defender is reluctant to extend his eight-year stay in West Yorkshire, it may be in our best interests to move him on.
McAllister, who won the title with us back in 1992, would seem to agree.
Speaking to Leeds Live courtesy of BetSelect, the former midfielder said, “I think they’ll offer him (Struijk) a new contract and try to keep him. Team stability is important. Plus, he’s a left-footed centre-back, which is rare. Lefties are hard to come by.
“But then it becomes difficult if a player is not looking to sign. I think you’ve got to gauge that. If he’s not showing that he wants to commit to Leeds United, then you’ve got to sell.
“Losing somebody for free at the end of a contract isn’t good planning. So I would imagine they’ll be looking to tie him into a contract soon.”
Feels like Pascal Struijk will leave Leeds United this summer
The more I think about it, the less and less confident I am that Struijk will sign a new deal.
Before Ampadu signed his extension with the Whites, it was obvious from various reports that were emerging that United were in negotiations with their club captain over a new deal.
With Struijk, however? Radio silence.
There have been no recent updates from the likes of Graham Smyth that give me confidence that Struijk will stay.
If Struijk were desperate to say, surely by now we’d have heard something regarding a potential new contract.
Losing Struijk would be a major blow, and would have a knock-on effect regarding the 49ers’ transfer business for the summer.
If he leaves, two left-footed centre-backs would need to come through the door. That is an area in Daniel Farke’s squad in which we are extremely short in numbers as it is.
Hopefully, it’s just me worrying about nothing and Struijk, like Ampadu, puts pen to paper on a new deal.
For me, last season was the best of Struijk’s Leeds career, and he continues to develop season upon season under Farke, so losing him now would be a massive shame.
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