Leeds United have agreed terms verbally to sell centre-back Pascal Struijk to Brighton after he refused to sign a new contract this summer.
Brighton are expected to formalise an offer in the coming days and put the Dutchman through a medical ahead of agreeing personal terms with him and his representatives.
Leeds fans are divided on the transfer of the centre-back, but there is wide recognition that the reported fee of £20m is not enough for a player of his experience.
However, it has emerged that Leeds are not receiving £20m from the sale of Struijk, and the real figure is considerably less than what has been widely reported.
Leeds set to receive less than £20m for Pascal Struijk
According to Sky Sports News reporter Zinny Boswell, Leeds are set to receive an initial fee of £15m from the departure of the Dutch defender this summer.
Brighton have agreed to pay another £3m in add-ons based on appearances and performances, but the overall figure will only touch the £18m.
It is less than the widely reported figure of £20m, and far from what Leeds fans were expecting from the sale of one of their star players and defensive leaders.
The Leeds hierarchy have decided to sell a player of Struijk’s profile for money that could be considered a bargain basement price for a Premier League defender of his experience and quality.
With only a year left on his contract, Leeds were never going to get a big fee, but the club have already experienced how difficult it is to sign a player in the last year of his deal.
Southampton are standing firm on the valuation of Shea Charles, who is inexperienced at the top level and have rejected two offers from Leeds.
They will have to spend more to sign a replacement
Leeds will have to spend far more than the figure they are receiving for Struijk in the ongoing summer transfer window, and it is clear that they need a quality replacement.
They are unlikely to get a player of Struijk’s profile, ability and experience for £15m, unless they are looking at free agents.
Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci will cost more than £25m this summer, despite his side’s relegation from the Premier League, and Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande may need a club-record fee from Leeds.
Their decision to sell a defender of Struijk’s quality for just £15m is going to baffle Leeds fans for a while.
I thought Marathe knew what he doing. He said he would always get the best possible fee for our players. Now that lot that left on the last relegation just wanted out and in the main more was paid than they were worth. A clear out at any price was required because of the wage bill.
Now however there is no excuse, a very experienced player only just getting into his prime and we will be lucky to pick up the £15M let alone the add ons. This is criminal.
Who is responsible for this miserly sum being accepted, my god they saw you coming
He’s Championship quality anyway, but 20 Million isn’t a lot. 49ers are making themselves look incompetent, and cheapskates.
This stinks of Brighton tapping up Pascal early on and encouraging him not to renew his contract so they could steal him from us.