Leeds United centre-back Pascal Struijk has been loosely linked with a move to multiple Premier League clubs. But, the fee being mentioned looks bizarre.
With the summer window soon approaching, it’s hardly a surprise when the transfer rumour mill starts to gain traction.
How much Leeds, and Premier League rivals, are actually able to do right now is tough to say. Our Premier League status is quite an important factor in any ongoing transfer interest.
Pascal Struijk linked with £30million Leeds United exit to three Premier League clubs
So, anything you read at this stage in the season has to be taken with a pinch of salt regarding significant transfer speculation.
Sportsboom have now reported that Leeds centre-back Pascal Struijk is of interest for Premier League rivals Tottenham, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa.
All three sides are in the market for a centre-back, supposedly. Meanwhile, Leeds are claimed to be looking to start the bidding at £30million for the Dutchman.
Truth behind £30m Pascal Struijk, Leeds United exit links this summer
I don’t doubt that all three sides would want a new centre-back this summer. The value of a left-footed centre-back that is incredibly effective with the ball at their feet is high for top-half clubs. Or in Spurs’ case, clubs who think they belong in the top half.
However, how believable is a £30million price tag for Struijk?
He’s hitting his peak years as a Premier League centre-back, turning 27 this August, while having a lot of experience already under his belt. On top of that, his form this season indicates he’d be a worthy pickup for any club higher up than Leeds right now, previously described as the “cornerstone” of Leeds’ future by Daniel Farke.
That being said, Struijk enters the final 12 years of his contract this summer. There’s no way that Leeds would be able to command £30million, as a minimum, for a nearly-27-year-old centre-back in the last year of his contract.
Signed for virtually nothing as an academy prospect in 2018, Struijk represents pure profit for United this summer. So, even a reduced sum would represent a strong boost for Leeds’ budget. On that logic, he would be someone the club might consider to sell. That is, if the right money is offered while the right replacement crops up.
But, that much money is just not going to be on the table for Leeds. Of course, if someone were to offer us £30million for a player with a dwindling contract, you’d be hard pressed to turn it down.
It’s worth remembering in a similar position, Marc Guehi was only going to join Liverpool last summer for £35million. A player previously worth double that amount to Crystal Palace.
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