Fulham and AFC Bournemouth become latest clubs linked with Leeds United star

Fulham and AFC Bournemouth are the latest clubs to have been linked with Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk.

The centre-back arrived at Leeds from Ajax’s academy as a youngster in 2018, profitable a contract after a profitable trial.

He has blossomed into a longtime senior determine, turning into one among Daniel Farke’s most trusted lieutenants, and is nearing the 200-appearance milestone.

The 26-year-old is beneath contract at Elland Road till 2027 and as the ultimate 12 months of his deal approaches, switch hypothesis has been circulating.

According to SportsBoom, there’s curiosity from Bournemouth as they plan a bolstering of their backline.

Fulham have been described as long-term admirers of Struijk, though it has been claimed they are going to maintain off on switch plans till there’s readability over the way forward for supervisor Marco Silva.

Reports have steered Leeds wish to maintain Struijk and the latest has indicated the Whites wish to tie him right down to a brand new contract.

It now stays to be seen what the longer term holds for the classy centre-back, who impressed in Leeds’ 2-2 draw with Bournemouth final night time (April 22).

In a current interview on ‘The Official Leeds United Podcast’, Struijk lifted the lid on his resolution to hitch Leeds eight years in the past.

He said: “There was two places I could have gone to. One was a team in Holland, called Groningen, which more towards the north, and play in the second team.

“Or, I could go for a trial here at Leeds and see how this is feeling, take a big step into a new country and moving. I decided it was better for me to take a big step and see how I develop as a person.

“It was such a big step away from home. It’s not like I’m still in the same country, I can rely on my parents or I can rely on coming back and forth.

“It’s more like, I want to put myself in this position, throw myself in the deep end, see how I grow or develop from this situation, because I feel there is no right or wrong. I can only see if I put myself up to that challenge, to see how I develop from there. That is something that has worked out really well for me.”