Pascal Struijk has hinted there was a transfer offer that turned his head in the summer before it was decided he would ultimately stay at Leeds United.

The Dutchman is known to have received interest before the start of the season, yet said in an interview in September that he “never doubted I wasn’t going to be at Leeds,” having underlined his Premier League ambition.

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Struijk recently spoke to ESPN Netherlands about various topics, including the summer proposals that were put before him. The comments from the piece depict the centre-back offering some cryptic comments.

In the English transcription of the interview, Struijk says: “I had some options to leave, but that didn’t happen. That had to do with several parties.

“From my side, there was something I would have liked to do. But the three parties: me, the club, and the other club, all had to reach an agreement in the end. If that doesn’t happen, then I simply have a contract and I’ll do my job.”

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Daniel Farke had made clear to Leeds chiefs that he wanted to keep the core of his Championship title-winning squad heading into the new Premier League season, and Struijk was one of the names ringfenced. The 26-year-old has played in all but two of United’s 22 Premier League games this season.

Bamford’s chat with Gray

Harry Gray earned his full senior debut in Rotherham United’s 3-2 defeat to Stockport County on Saturday, having joined the League One club on loan this week.

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“I thought he did well,” said manager Matthew Hamshaw of Gray after full-time. “He’s got bloody knees and a scratched face. He’ll have learned a lot today.”

Gray has gone on record stating he feels he can’t learn much more from youth football and that he pushed for a loan exit this month, after scoring 11 goals in 13 academy games. But before he took the step to Rotherham, the 17-year-old reached out to former colleague Patrick Bamford for advice.

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Speaking to journalist Justin Allen, the Sheffield United striker unpacked how it unfolded. “He texted me the other day before he went on loan, asking my thoughts,” Bamford said.

“I spent about half an hour going through the options, positives and negatives, and just sent him a message of what my thoughts were and what was best for him. Obviously it’s nice to be asked these things.

“The fact he leant on me for a little bit of advice – I don’t want to say it’s an ego boost, but that my opinion counts. If I can help him in any way, I will.”

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Bamford added: “The best thing is playing men’s football. I remember all the fuss about him when he was 14 or 15. I went to watch an Under-23s game at the training ground, and I went purely just to watch him because I hadn’t seen him play yet.

“I saw what he was about straight away. It’s going to be good for him, he’s going to learn a lot. He’s got a lot of potential and can take it as far as he wants.”

Rutter: I didn’t expect to leave Leeds

Georginio Rutter says he did not expect to leave Leeds at the start of last season, stating he “was not ready” to exit Elland Road. Rutter moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2024 after the Seagulls triggered his £40million release clause.

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The 23-year-old, who has 10 goals in 53 matches, says he felt “emotional” leaving United. Speaking to Premier League Productions, he said: “I didn’t expect to leave Leeds, honestly.

“I remember when they called me, my agent called me and said they [Brighton] paid the clause, and I was not ready. I was not ready because it was the last day of the release clause… I was not ready for this.

“After they paid the clause, I said bye-bye to everybody, emotional and after that I arrived in Brighton.”

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Rutter spoke to Leeds Live following Brighton’s 3-0 win over Leeds back in November, with the striker still clearly holding fond feelings for the Whites. He said: “I see everybody [former teammates] before and after the game – it was a bit strange.

“I don’t want to lie – but it’s football. I’m gonna play against them in [May], I think as well at Elland Road. When I took to the pitch and I see, the fans and, obviously, I remember the good times I had with them. So it was very special today.”