According to reports, Leicester City are interested in signing Leeds United starlet Pascal Struijk.
What's the story?
The 21-year-old has firmly established himself as a key part of Marcelo Bielsa's first-team plans in the Premier League this season, making 16 appearances in the top-flight, including playing the full 90 minutes in ten out of the last 11 games.
Now, De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness) claim that both the Foxes and Serie A giants Napoli are interested in the young Dutchman and that they have already inquired about potentially signing him.
Orta must intervene
At just 21, Struijk has got the best years ahead of him, and given how Bielsa seems to trust him with the number of opportunities and game-time he's afforded him this season in the Premier League, it seems foolish to cash in on him now.
Not only has he been a regular starter over these past few months, but Bielsa has placed his faith in him by turning to him as Kalvin Phillips' replacement whenever the England international has been out injured.
Able to play at both centre-back and in holding midfield too, Struijk was handed his debut by Bielsa against Hull, and hailed him as someone who "gives everything but asks for nothing in return".
Former Leeds man, Dominic Matteo, is seemingly a big fan of him, saying: "He reads the game a lot better than he’s credited for. He’ll get even better too. Struijk is one to look out for.
"There’s plenty of work to be done but, with the size of him, his physicality, his passing, he’s got it all and can step into midfield. He looks very calm on the ball, players who are a bit erratic are not for me but he looks comfortable in possession."
The £6m-rated (CIES) beast is only at the beginning of his career, and Victor Orta must block any chance of him leaving anytime soon. It's clear that Bielsa adores him as someone who fits the mould of putting the team first, being versatile and carrying out his manager's instructions.
Letting him go, whether to a Premier League rival or abroad, would be a major mistake.