Leeds United eyeing £26m Wolves star as potential Pascal Struijk successor | OneFootball

Leeds United are searching for a new defender following Pascal Struijk's departure

Wolves are preparing for life back in the Championship under Cesar Peixoto after Rob Edwards’ sudden dismissal.

The Old Gold finished bottom of the Premier League table under the 43-year-old, who had only been appointed as head coach in November.

The former Luton Town boss has been unable to turn things around following Vitor Pereira’s sacking in the early stages of the campaign.

Wolves were last in the second tier in 2018, when they earned promotion by clinching the title under Nuno Espirito Santo.

It is set to be a busy summer, with key players in line for departures amid transfer interest.

The Midlands outfit will also be keen to bolster their squad, with their sights set on competing for promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Leeds United target Wolves defender as Pascal Struijk nears Brighton move

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It has been reported by TEAMtalk that Leeds United are targeting a move for Ladislav Krejci as a possible replacement for Pascal Struijk.

The centre-back has emerged as a target in the aftermath of Wolves’ relegation to the Championship, and a defender is needed with Struijk's Elland Road exit imminent.

The Whites have agreed a £20 million deal with Brighton for Struijk, which is set to open up space in the squad for a defensive addition.

Daniel Farke is keen to bolster his backline, with Krejci one of three options to make the move to Elland Road this summer.

Also on the Yorkshire outfit’s shortlist are Danilho Doekhi and Nico Elvedi, who spent last season at Union Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach, respectively.

However, Doekhi is set to become a free agent following the expiration of his contract, and he has interest from a number of clubs in Italy and Germany, as well as Leeds.

Meanwhile, Krejci has just completed a permanent move to Molineux after spending last season on loan with the side, with the total loan and permanent fee amounting to £26 million.

The defender has a contract with the Old Gold until June 2029, giving the Championship team a lot of leverage in any upcoming negotiations.

The 27-year-old made 28 appearances in the top flight, contributing two goals and one assist, with Wolves coming rock bottom of the Premier League table.

A decision on Krejci’s future could now be accelerated in the coming weeks following the conclusion of Czechia’s participation in the World Cup.

Krejci scored in their opening fixture, a 2-1 loss to South Korea, but like Wolves in the Premier League, the Eastern European outfit came bottom of their standings.

Krejci knows the Premier League well, and would be an adequate replacement for Struijk in that sense.

It would be a bigger gamble for the club to go chasing Doekhi or Elvedi, who may not be suited to the physical style of the division.

However, the potential cost of the deal could be offputting, as Wolves have no immediate need to sell and could hold out for a major fee for the defender.

The Old Gold hold the cards, and that could put them in a position to hold onto Krejci, which would be a great step forward for the club for next season.