Marcelo Bielsa has told Leeds Live that ‘everything indicates’ that Leeds United youngster Pascal Struijk is going to turn into a capable Premier League central defender.
Struijk has been called upon regularly by Bielsa this term, with Leeds suffering so many injuries in defence.
But the prospect has coped well, despite being chucked in at the deep end.
And Bielsa suggests that he has seen plenty of signs that Struijk can cope at the top level, which is very helpful for the club’s long-term aims.
“This year the club invested £100m and bought in six players,” Bielsa said, when asked whether Leeds could make it into the top six.
“The make up of the squad and the investment that the club makes to improve the starting XI will mark how long it will take.
“If Pascal is able to make himself as Premier League centre-back, which is what everything indicates, he is a product of the youth teams.
“It’s a big help to find those 18 starting players I was talking about.
“So it’s all subject to the evolution of the players who integrate the project. From this season 20-21, there are a number of corrections that are considered until you make up the 18 starting players.”
Struijk has made 15 Premier League appearances in total this campaign, which is more than anyone could have expected at the start of the season.
Struijk didn’t feature particularly prominently last season, when Leeds were in the Championship, but he has dealt were with becoming a first-team regular.
Struijk has had to be called upon as both Diego Llorente and Robin Koch have struggled for fitness since joining.
The 21-year-old looks set to start again for Leeds later this evening, when they take on Southampton at Elland Road.
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