Paul Robinson reacts with Leeds United set to sign Leo Hjelde from Celtic
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson doesn’t see Leo Hjelde getting into the Leeds United first-team this season with the Celtic teenager reportedly on the verge of a move to Elland Road.
Nettavisen journalist Stian Andre de Wahl has reported that Leeds have agreed personal terms with Hjelde, 17, and that he’s due to have a medical with the Yorkshire club. The Scottish Sun has added that a “significant” fee has been agreed between Celtic and the Whites.
Hjelde will leave the Bhoys having never made a first-team appearance for them but the young defender did spend the second half of last season on loan at Ross County.
He helped them avoid relegation from the Scottish Premiership by playing 12 times in all competitions as a centre-back, left-back and even a left-winger [transfermarkt].
Although Robinson wants to see Leeds add some depth to their left-back options, he doesn’t see Hjelde being a back-up option behind Junior Firpo due to his tender age.
“They do need reinforcement in that area,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“Junior came on at the weekend. It was a difficult game for everyone so we didn’t get to see the best of him but he’s a player I like and is going to be a really good addition to the squad.
“Left-back is an area they need to strengthen but I feel Hjelde is a little bit too young to go into the first-team so he could go into Mark Jackson’s Under-23s and develop there for a season. But he does give Bielsa an option should he want to use him, dependent upon how he performs.
“Bielsa is very clever with his signings, he doesn’t just sign players for the here and now.
“He’s put the club on good foundations by signing players for the future and Hjelde looks like another.”
Leeds have already added a few new faces to their Under-23s squad this summer with Lewis Bate, Amari Miller and Sean McGurk all arriving from other clubs in England.
Hjelde, a Norway youth international, will be the first to come from outside of England and the first non-English player signed for the Under-23s this summer too.
Kristoffer Klaesson is a 20-year-old goalkeeper and although he’s young, he’s a first-team signing as he’s Bielsa’s number two behind Illan Meslier.
It will be nice for Hjelde and Klaesson, two young Norwegian lads, to have each other for support in West Yorkshire.
In other Leeds United news, Stan Collymore wants the Whites to sign this £70million-rated player after a stunning performance at the weekend.