Serie A club Torino have reportedly identified a key Leeds United player as a potential target this summer.
Torino are set to be in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer and are looking towards Elland Road for someone they could look at.
The Serie A side are on the verge of completing the £34 million sale of Alessandro Buongiorno to Napoli, giving them some cash to spend on a replacement.
Leeds are already looking short at the back even after the return of Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur, having lost options both at full-back, and in central defence.
Archie Gray, who spent much of last season at right-back, has left for Spurs, while Connor Roberts has gone back to Burnley.
Charlie Cresswell is on the verge of sealing a move to Ligue 1 side Toulouse and Liam Cooper is leaning towards turning down the offer of a new contract.
Torino now eyeing move for Pascal Struijk
Daniel Farke‘s squad has not been short of interest in the last week or so with numerous clubs from Europe’s top five leagues starting to circle.
Liverpool and PSG are both keen on Crysencio Summerville, Brighton have seen a £30 million offer rejected for Georginio Rutter, and Glen Kamara is of serious interest to Rennes.
Illan Meslier has also been linked with a move to Marseille, and it now appears as though his close friend Pascal Struijk is the latest to be wanted.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Torino have earmarked Struijk as one of a number of potential replacements for the aforementioned Buongiorno.
Struijk features on a shortlist of targets that also includes Trabzonspor’s Rayyan Baniya and Brighton’s Igor.
It would appear Torino have not yet decided on who they might move for, but it is certainly one to worry about going forward.
- READ MORE: Archie Gray and Sammie Szmodics react to latest transfer news out of Leeds United on Thursday
Leeds simply have to keep Struijk
Even during Leeds’ run of 12 wins in 13 matches after his injury on Boxing Day, Struijk’s absence was extremely hard felt in the second half of last season.
The ‘fantastic‘ defender has already been labelled as a ‘cornerstone’ of Leeds’ future by Daniel Farke, and that has to be the stance this summer.
Reigniting Struijk’s partnership with Rodon in central defence would be huge for Leeds’ chances of promotion, given his progressive passing from the back and threat from set-pieces.
Given who they have already lost, Leeds simply cannot afford to let Struijk go as well.
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