With Pascal Strujk set to leave the club, Leeds United have identified Danilo Doyek as a potential target along with their other two centre-backs.
Strujk’s time at Elland Road is coming to an end, with Leeds opting to sign the defender given he only has one year left on his contract and a £20m move to Brighton is on the horizon.
The 26-year-old was one of Daniel Farke’s most important players in the Premier League last season, making 34 appearances. This means finding a reliable replacement is important, and Union Berlin’s Doek, who has started every Bundesliga game, is one of his main targets.
Football Fancast Verdict | |
|---|---|
reliability | Strujk’s departure has forced Leeds into action in the transfer market, with the Dutchman playing a key role in helping Leeds avoid collapse last season, playing 2,937 minutes in the Premier League, the third-most minutes of any player in the team. |
finances | Doeki will be available on a free transfer when his contract expires this month, meaning he could join Farke’s side at a low cost. |
insight | Like Strujk, the Union Berlin star was a key player for the team last season, playing 3,060 minutes in the Bundesliga. He averaged 8.7 defensive contributions in 90 games, ranking third on the German team. |
impact | Given his achievements at Union Berlin, the 28-year-old is well placed to make an immediate impact at Elland Road. The right-handed Dutchman is likely to replace his compatriot, although Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ladislav Kureishi, who is naturally left-handed, also remains an alternative option. |
Leeds identify three key targets to replace Pascal Strujk
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Doyek has now emerged as one of Leeds’ likely targets to replace Strujk, alongside Krejci and Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi.
The Union Berlin star is expected to be available on a free transfer soon, but has also attracted strong interest from clubs in Germany and Italy.
Danilo Doek could be a threat in both boxes for Leeds
The 27-year-old put in an outstanding performance against Bayern Munich last season, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw and was subsequently described as a “goal-scoring threat” by journalist Archie Lind-Tutt.
Indeed, the centre-back finished the season with seven goals in 37 games in all competitions, suggesting he could be an attacking threat for Leeds.
Importantly for defenders, the Bundesliga star is also very good in the air, winning 156 aerial duels in the league last season with a success rate of 65.8%, and averaging 0.7 blocks per 90, the second-highest in the team.
Doyek has appeared in every Bundesliga game for Union Berlin over the past two seasons and has shown his consistency and could be a great replacement for Strujk.
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Leeds United have already parted ways with a star player who could replace Daniel Farke and be an upgrade to Pascal Strujk.
