Leeds United: Paris Saint-Germain put off Pascal Struijk January transfer by asking price, could return in coming months
In an attempt to strengthen their defence, Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly interested in signing Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk, according to L’Equipe.
The French news outlet reports on its website (December 28) that the Paris team was interested in signing him in January but was turned off by the Yorkshire club’s asking price.
Because of this, PSG was forced to buy Brazilian Lucas Beraldo for £17.3 million instead. However, the Struijk case is still open, so they may make another attempt “in the coming months.”
They claimed that PSG attempted to sign Leeds-born Dutchman Pascal Struijk before coming to a deal with Sao Paulo for Lucas Beraldo.
This is a file that is not yet closed but may now proceed in the upcoming months.Paris Saint-Germain have begun talks with Leeds to try to bring in 24-year-old Pascal Struijk (who is under contract until 2027) as a left-handed central defender. These talks were facilitated by president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
For a few weeks now, leaders in Paris have been focusing on his profile.However, the talks with Leeds, who were fourth in the Championship, were difficult.The €20 million asking price forced Paris to proceed concurrently with the Lucas Beraldo deal.
Trouble
There’s no doubt that Leeds are in a strong financial position and will be able to deal with most offers that may come their way during the January window and potentially next summer too.
But there is a big difference between rejecting offers from teams like Brighton and Everton who are building just like we are, and stopping a player moving to a European powerhouse like PSG.
It would almost be cruel to ban him from playing because they have some of the finest players in the world, they play in the Champions League, and they frequently win championships.
Still, Leeds must prioritise themselves, and it would be a crime to let him go in the middle of the season, especially as we work to return to the top division.
There is a problem because Struijk is so vital that if PSG decides to reopen negotiations in the summer, we might not be able to oppose them in the Premier League or the Championship.
In related story
Leeds could oust Bamford by signing wonderkid who’s like Henrik Larsson
With this transfer arrangement in place for January, Leeds United may finally be able to bid a dying Patrick Bamford farewell.
Leeds United was not able to duplicate their convincing victory over Ipswich Town last time out, and they will have been upset to leave the Preston North End encounter empty-handed.
When it came to the 2-1 loss at Deepdale, the Whites’ attackers did not perform up to their normal good standards. According to Sofascore, neither Joel Piroe nor Georginio Rutter had any shots on goal, and neither was able to catch Freddie Woodman in the opposing goal.
Even the addition of veteran starter Patrick Bamford and young prospect Mateo Joseph to the attack in the second half was unable to prevent Leeds from winning on the road; Daniel Farke’s team eventually ran out of ideas and steam before halftime.
Given that the Whites are big fans of a wonderkid who, at the age of just 17, is still sweeping his home South Africa, Farke may likely seek to the transfer market to add more firepower up top.Leeds is willing to offer their own teenage homegrown players, like Archie Grey, first team minutes, so this may be the ideal next stop for this rising star to continue to grow and shine.
Leeds transfer latest
Luke Baartman, a 17-year-old attacker who is considered to be one of the best players in South African football right now, is a striker for Cape Town Spurs. Last month, The Scottish Sun revealed that Leeds and Celtic were interested in signing him.
Baartman has scored twice for the senior team of the Cape Town Spurs this season, including a powerful header for his boyhood club in the most recent DStv Premiership game.
When he moves to Elland Road in January, Baartman won’t immediately have an impact in the first team, but Bamford’s days will eventually come to an end as Farke attempts to add young players to the roster to replace the West Yorkshire old guard.
Patrick Bamford’s numbers this season
With only 15 games under his belt and only minutes coming off the bench as the clock runs out, Bamford, 30, has had a terrible season thus far with Leeds.
The veteran Leeds attacker has been losing ground for some time, so his current form is neither shocking nor exceptional given that the former Chelsea player is frequently sidelined by injury when he isn’t shooting poorly.
With just 15 games under his belt and only minutes coming off the bench as the clock runs out, Bamford, 30, has had a terrible season thus far with Leeds.
Given that the elderly Leeds forward has been out of form for some time and is frequently sidelined by injury when he isn’t misfiring in front of goal, this season’s performance is neither shocking nor exceptional.
| Season | Games played | Goals scored |
| 2023-24 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 31 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | 10 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 38 | 17 |
| Sourced by Transfermarkt | ||
Technical director Sean Connor of Cape Town Spurs told the Scottish Sun that with Bamford’s abilities waning, Farke might strike for Baartman as a wise move, buying with the future in mind and obtaining a striker with a similarity to Henrik Larsson.
When Connor first saw the young prodigy, he said that the “spatial awareness, movement and pace” of the juvenile phenom reminded him of the legendary Swedish striker. This is a daring comparison to make for a 17-year-old who still has a lot of playing left in him.Leeds may decide that investing in Baartman this January is a risk worth taking, using the South African striker to develop first in the U21 team and then releasing him into the starting lineup in an attempt to emulate Gray’s remarkable journey.
When the Whites must bid Bamford farewell, it will be a sad parting of ways, but it’s one they’ll have to think about soon enough, as the injury-prone striker is entirely losing his scoring edge.
The addition of Baartman might seem like a move for the future, but Farke is willing to believe in any talent, no matter how young, as evidenced by Grey, who has made 25 appearances across all competitions this season.
Therefore, seeing the two 17-year-olds flourish on the same side may be an exciting prospect for the Elland Road team.