Leeds United and their Under-23s have been reborn under Andrea Radrizzani, and massively improved under Carlos Corberan this season.
This rebirth and improvement was done via a two-pronged strategy. First the core of the side was packed with youngsters from sides on the continent. Players such as Pascal Struijk (Ajax) and Kun Temenuzhkov (Barcelona) arrived at Elland Road.
These highly rated foreign youngsters were then augmented with rated young players from domestic sides such as Lief Davis (Morecambe), Jordan Stevens (Forest Green Rovers) and Ryan Edmondson (York City).
Now, according to Alan Nixon (below), the Whites are looking to add another youngster to the Elland Raod ranks.
LEEDS. Want to buy Luca Connell from BOLTON. Decent contract too. BRIGHTON haven backed out of chase.
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) May 12, 2019
As Nixon indicates, the player in question is Bolton’s rated 18-year-old Luca Connell. The Liverpool-born defensive midfielder has risen to prominence this season, featuring in 12 first-team games across all competitions.
10 of these appearances (674 minutes) have been for the Trotters in their doomed Sky Bet Championship campaign. This has seen them not only relegated from the Championship, but also suffer cash flow problems to such a degree that the first team refused to play against Brentford.
Whilst Brighton may have backed away from a deal for Connell, there still remains Premier League interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Others such as Wolves, Everton and newly promoted Norwich are also thought to be keeping tabs on the youngster.
However, by offering a “decent contract”, Leeds United will be looking to steal a march on the others in pursuit of a player who many would say would slot right in at Elland Road.
