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MOT View: PL rule will block Leeds from signing defender on loan after Phil Hay moots deal
Leeds United will be blocked from signing Yan Couto on loan from Manchester City due to a Premier League transfer rule.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay reported in March that Leeds had been interested in right-back Couto, 18, when he played for Brazilian club Cortiba.
However, Man City swooped in to sign the young defender for £13.6million, stopped Leeds dead in their tracks as they pursued the Under-17 World Cup winner.
Leeds’ chances of signing Couto weren’t dead and buried though, according to Hay, who said that Man City would be open to sending the Brazilian out on loan to Leeds if they won promotion to the Premier League.
Of course, Leeds have since won the Championship title and a deal for Couto was on the cards until a development with Jack Harrison’s future at Elland Road.
LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross has reported that Harrison, 23, is set to join Leeds on loan for a third season in a row and that the deal will be made official either this week or next.
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Everyone was expecting the Whites to sign the winger permanently after two strong seasons on loan in West Yorkshire but due to the financial impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on clubs, a permanent switch has been delayed by a further year.
With Harrison joining on loan from Man City, Leeds are unable to sign Couto on a temporary deal too.
Premier League rules say that while clubs can register two players on loan from another Premier League club at a time, they can not have more than one from the same club.
Harrison’s imminent return to Leeds puts paid to the Couto link, unless the Whites somehow sign the young Brazilian permanently – which we very much doubt.
Couto is still young though. He’s only just turned 18 and who knows? Marcelo Bielsa might do more business with Man City next summer if Harrison isn’t signed on loan for a fourth year running.
In other Leeds United news, fans of this Premier League club are urging Leeds to sign one of their players.