Phil Hay claims new Leeds youngster so ‘impressive’ in training he is set to be levelled up
Leeds United have done a fair amount of business already this summer.
First-team signings might be thin on the ground, but Leeds have announced permanent deals for Illan Meslier and Helder Costa, while Jack Harrison has rejoined on another season-long loan.
However, Leeds have been busy with younger players, with Joe Gelhardt, Cody Drameh and Charlie Allen all joining.
Allen, at 16, is the youngest, but he’s already been turning heads at Leeds – and Athletic journalist Phil Hay claims after initially hooking up with the Under-18s, he’s already being earmarked for a big role with the Under-23s this season.
Talking on the latest episode of his podcast, Hay said, “It’s worth touching on some of the Under-23s activity.
“Joe Gelhardt is in from Wigan and while I don’t think Bielsa will be resistant to using him as a first-team player, I think he will definitely be involved in the Under-23s squad.
“They’ve got Charlie Allen in from Linfield, a 16-year-old, and to look at him he’s got a man’s body for a boy’s brain.
“He was very highly thought of in Northern Ireland and there were a lot of clubs after him.
“Without being disrespectful to anyone else that’s coming in, I know that was one of the deals that Leeds were desperate to get done.
“I’m told he’s trained with the 18s and has already looked really impressive. I think the plan will be to get him in with the Under-23s as much as possible.”
Future is bright
Leeds fans have been complaining about not getting any transfer news this summer but there’s been plenty – it’s just not the marquee signings they’re looking for.
However, players like Gelhardt, Drameh and Allen are the future at Leeds and we can’t wait to see them playing for the Under-23s.
Allen sounds like a real talent and, as Hay said, he already looks like a real unit for a 16-year-old.
He was Linfield’s youngest ever debutant at the age of just 15 and was included in their 25-man squad for the Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg.
It sounds like he’s going to be used in the Under-23s, despite his age, and that could see his development towards the first-team squad accelerated.
With Gelhardt and Allen in the Under-23s, we fear for other sides in Premier League 2 next season.
In other Leeds United news, Kalvin Phillips sends message to Ben White on Instagram after Leeds players return to training