Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk in massively unlikely to leave the club in the January window, despite reports claiming that he is itching for an exit.
The Whites have so many assets that are going to be subject to strong interest as the January window closes in, but one of the players who doesn’t look set to leave is Pascal Struijk.
This comes despite reports this week from Sacha Tavolieri that Leeds have cut the defender’s asking price down to £13.1million and that he would like to leave for Club Brugge.
Since then, the Yorkshire Evening Post have shut down these claims that Leeds could be set to lose their key defender on a cut-price deal, pointing to the fact that Struijk has been named captain on the team sheet for several matches and has been integral to Daniel Farke’s plans.
It wouldn’t be a shock if Leeds did lose some players in January though, given their strength in depth, and here, we look at two others who we think are more likely to see approaches accepted by Leeds…
Joe Gelhardt
Joel Piroe’s arrival spelled trouble for Joe Gelhardt at the start of the season, and the fact that both he and Georginio Rutter have been virtually impossible to drop so far with nine goals and six assists between them this season, means that Gelhardt has been pushed out of the picture.
Patrick Bamford returning as backup too means that Gelhardt is third or even fourth choice to start as number nine, and the same in the secondary striker role Piroe has made his own.
He’s been out of the squad with a fractured hand lately, but the fact he hasn’t played a minute since his late cameo against Millwall back in September is a worrying development for him.
Gelhardt will surely be seeing his partner in crime, Sam Greenwood shine at Middlesbrough and think a move away is best for him to get that sort of tailored exposure under a manager who can fit him in.
Where will Leeds finish in 23/24?
League-winners
Automatic promotion
3rd-6th
Outside the playoffs
Kristoffer Klaesson
Kristoffer Klaesson has been virtually forgotten at Leeds, at 22 he’s stuck between first team football and the under-21s that have multiple options younger than him.
If Karl Darlow isn’t getting a look in, then Klaesson has literally no chance of featuring for Leeds in any capacity this season.
Whether it’s a permanent approach Leeds consider or a loan to get him minutes remains to be seen, but the Norway youth international must be questioning what he’s doing at Leeds right now.