Everton 'lining up' £20m move for Leeds United and Liverpool -linked defender Lutsharel Geertruida
Leeds United have been linked with Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida - but he is reportedly being lined up for a £20m move to Everton.
A right-back who can also operate as a centre-back or central midfielder, Geertruida is approaching the end of his season-long loan deal at the Stadium of Light.
The 25-year-old has made 27 appearances in the Premier League but reports have indicated Sunderland will not take up their option to buy him from RB Leipzig.
Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida has made 27 appearances in the Premier League this season.placeholder image
Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida has made 27 appearances in the Premier League this season. | Richard Sellers/PA Wire
Everton ‘line up’ move for Leeds United-linked defender
Leeds were recently credited with interest in the Netherlands international alongside Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Everton.
According to reporter Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, Everton are lining up a £20m move for Geertruida this summer.
Right-back is an area in which the Toffees need to strengthen, with long-serving stalwart Seamus Coleman departing this summer.
David Moyes’ scouts are said to have been checking out Geertruida, who started his senior career at Feyenoord before moving to Germany with RB Leipzig in 2024.
Leeds appear unlikely to be willing to fork out such a hefty fee for a right-back given they already have Jayden Bogle and James Justin in their ranks, although Sam Byram does look set to depart when his deal runs out this summer.
Lutsharel Geertruida has come up against Leeds United twice this season.placeholder image
Lutsharel Geertruida has come up against Leeds United twice this season. | Richard Sellers/PA Wire
The summer ahead at Leeds United
Whether Geertruida is pursued or not, it promises to be an interesting summer in the recruitment department at Elland Road. Leeds struggled to kick on in Marcelo Bielsa’s second season as a Premier League manager, largely due to shortcomings in the transfer market.
Junior Firpo and Daniel James were the only senior additions to Leeds’ squad in 2021 and the club cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Whites manager Daniel Farke made that abundantly clear last week, when he laid down the gauntlet to the Leeds board.
He said: “I won't take on a season where I'm not convinced the club is heading in the right direction. Right now. I think it's important for the club that we sit in a trustful atmosphere and speak about new goals. We have to speak about the way we want to achieve it. We have to speak about the processes.
“The club has to decide where we want to be in a few years time. I'm ambitious and this is quite important for me. I love to be a manager who plays for something instead of to playing to avoid something. I'm not the right choice if it's about maintaining the status quo. I have to be convinced of a project and the way we do it.”