Diogo Monteiro jets into UK to complete Leeds United transfer before deadline
Diogo Monteiro is flying into England on Thursday (26 January) to seal a permanent transfer to Leeds United, according to LUFCFANZONE.
The Whites have been linked with a move for the 17-year-old defender this month as part of their "anticipating talent" programme for the youth teams.
Phil Hay previously reported that there was a "high likelihood" of a deal being done, and according to Twitter account LUFCFANZONE (26 January), who Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani follows and confirmed has sources, he is due to land in Leeds this afternoon to seal a deal once he turns 18 this weekend.
"Diogo Monteiro will land in Leeds today with his entourage ahead of his permanent transfer from Swiss side Servette," they wrote.
"The Portuguese youth international will initially link up with Leeds’ under 21 squad, and turns 18 on Saturday."
Never in doubt
As soon as it became clear that Leeds wanted to sign Monteiro and that he was open to the move, then it was never really in doubt.
A highly-rated young defender, Monteiro has played first-team football in Switzerland already despite his age and he will continue to develop at Elland Road once he signs.
Brexit rules mean he can't sign until he turns 18, but there isn't much that Servette can do to stop him putting pen to paper on a permanent deal with the Premier League club and he will look to be next on the conveyor belt of talent that has broken through in recent years.
Charlie Cresswell, Sam Greenwood and Cyrsencio Summerville have come through the youth football system to break into the first-team, while young players like Willy Gnonto and Illan Meslier have shone after signing from a young age.
The pathway is there to be used, and Monteiro is set to become the third arrival at Leeds this winter.