Another sign that Pascal Struijk is the most likely under-23 centre-back for Leeds United first-team

Add as preferred source on Google

Pascal Struijk looks likely to be the next best centre-back from the Leeds United under-23s this season. 

Leeds released Hugo Diaz earlier this summer and it now seems like Aapo Halme will follow. Helsingin Sanomat are reporting that the Finnish youngster is set to join Barnsley on a permanent deal this week. 

The Yorkshire Post has since backed up that report.  The Tykes need to replace both Liam Lindsay and Ethan Pinnock, who have joined Stoke and Brentford respectively.

It should certainly be no surprise that Dutchman Strujk is now set to be the lead central defender for the under-23s. 

Halme initially got the call-up. But by the end of last season, Struijk was the central defender called into the first-team amid a defensive injury crisis at Leeds. The 19-year-old was on the bench for both legs of the play-off semi-final against Derby County.

It was likely a welcome relief for the player, signed from Ajax in January 2018. Prior to this development, he was becoming a forgotten man at Elland Road.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that Hungarian side MOL Vidi had Struijk on their radar. Nemzeti Sport suggested that the Europa League regulars wanted to bring the Dutchman in back in May. 

That interest never materialized into anything and it seems we now know the reason why. It will certainly be interesting to see if Struijk can continue to build on his progress last season and push into the Leeds first-team going forward.