What has been interesting after six Premier League games is that Daniel Farke has retained faith in a number of his Championship promotion-winning players, despite the upgrade in quality.
Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk have started all six league games. Ethan Ampadu has started four, missing two through injury. Karl Darlow has impressed in his three starts since Lucas Perri’s injury.
Dan James, Willy Gnonto, Ao Tanaka, and Joel Piroe have all started games for Leeds this season. It is fair to say that the players who got Leeds into the Premier League are certainly having an impact so far.
Aaronson and Struijk were likely expecting to be warming the bench this season. Farke has changed last season’s 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3, meaning there is no room for an attacking midfielder in the side.
But Aaronson has made the right-wing slot his own in recent games, while the signing of Jaka Bijol has not gone as many expected. Bijol was set to slot in alongside Joe Rodon, but Struijk has kept his place.
Aidy White says how much he thinks Pascal Struijk is worth
On BBC Radio Leeds, former Leeds star Aidy White was asked why Bijol is not in the side. White replied by saying he doesn’t agree with players coming into the side simply because they’ve cost a big transfer fee.
White asked the question of why Struijk should be dropped for Bijol. He does not believe Struijk should have to make way simply because Bijol has cost money, saying that Struijk is worth as much, if not more.
“I don’t like the view that because you’ve been signed for money, you’re entitled to play. Struijk has started the season well, he’s held on to his shirt. So he should. He’s played well,” White told BBC RL.
“Struijk and Bijol, what’s their value. Bijol is worth £18m. Struijk’s value has got to be up there, no doubt about it. If he’s getting sold, he’s going for £18m+ – the numbers aren’t always the thing to go off.”
Pascal Struijk identified as possible PSR sale by Leeds in summer
Managing director Robbie Evans has already said that Leeds have maxed out PSR. That means any new additions made, will have to come alongside a sale, in order to keep the club abiding by the guidelines.
Leeds identified two possible sales to boost the club’s PSR position, in duo Willy Gnonto and Struijk. The latter joined Leeds for a nominal fee from Ajax as a teenager, and it would be a big profit if White is right.
Struijk admitted that there was interest in him during the summer, but he opted to remain at Leeds as he wanted to taste the Premier League again with Leeds. Two years left on his deal, Leeds need to move.
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