Leeds United climbed back into the Premier League for the 2025-26 season after clinching the Championship title, sealed by that 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in May 2025. Now back with England’s elite, the Whites are finding their feet again.
Daniel Farke’s squad started the year with real ambition and a few new faces, but they have been in a scrap for survival since the opening weeks. Currently, Leeds are 15th in the table, four points above the relegation zone, as the season moves into the final few weeks. Staying up is huge for the club, not just for their pride, but for their chances of keeping their best players.
Struijk Attracts Premier League Interest Ahead of Summer Window
According to Pete O’Rourke, Leeds United are doing everything in their power to keep centre-back Pascal Struijk this summer. Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United are all reportedly keeping tabs on the 26-year-old. The word is that while Leeds feel confident they can keep him if they stay in the Premier League, they’ll be susceptible to big offers if they end up back in the Championship.
It makes sense why clubs are looking for him when you look at Struijk’s 2025-26 numbers. He has featured in 28 Premier League games this season, racking up 2,431 minutes on the pitch. Along with one assist, he’s maintained a 6.9 average FotMob rating and picked up just three yellow cards.
His defensive stats are solid too, averaging 6.32 clearances, 1.11 tackles, and 1.03 interceptions per 90 minutes. Beyond the numbers, his value comes from his versatility, as he’s a left-footed centre-back who can fill in at left-back or defensive midfield. With a contract running until 2027 and a €20 million price tag on Transfermarkt, it’s clear why top-flight rivals are watching Struijk so closely.
Is Struijk Too Important for Leeds United to Lose, Regardless of Division?
The short answer is yes, and it’s about more than just stats. Struijk is the kind of player Leeds United really can’t afford to lose. He knows the level, reads the game well, and stays calm under pressure. These qualities are hard to find and expensive to replace in a single window. The teams chasing him, Villa and Newcastle, can offer at least a more stable future. That makes for a very tough conversation between Leeds and the player.
Timing is also a huge factor here. If Leeds United go down and lose Struijk, winning promotion back to the Premier League becomes a much harder task. It’s a cycle that has swallowed up plenty of ambitious clubs before. Farke has done well to keep this team competitive in 15th, but the squad is thin, and there’s very little room for error. Keeping Struijk needs to be the board’s top priority, no matter what league they are in come August.
