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Leeds United: Bolton manager impressed by 'excellent' Sonny Perkins
A very young Leeds United Under-21 side were beaten by Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday (18 October) but they still impressed Ian Evatt.
The Wanderers manager is still good friends with Whites captain Liam Cooper and has regular chats with his former teammate about the talent at Thorp Arch.
He hopes that with the skipper on board, he can perhaps have first choice on any youngster that needs a loan away from Elland Road when the January transfer window rolls around.
“Going back to some conversations, speaking to Liam, he made me aware of a few to keep an eye out for – nothing to do with the game really but more to do with maybe loan options in the future – to see who is doing well for them,” he said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“Sonny (Perkins) was one of those guys who Liam has been very impressed with and I thought last night, he was very impressive. Some of his control, ability to bring other people into play and movement was excellent. I thought there were a number of players like that.”
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While having clubs where relations are great and players can be sent on loan are all well and good, it would be nicer for Leeds United if they could have that with Football League clubs closer to home.
Bolton is by no means on the other side of the world but it does require a cross of the Pennines and into Lancashire territory and the most steadfast of Yorkshiremen would prefer any youngsters stayed in the area.
That would also make it much easier for youth coaches and scouts to drop in and keep an eye on them as they try to break into senior football rather than needing to travel hours on end for what could be a 10-minute conversation.
There is naturally a bit of a rivalry between all clubs in Yorkshire, as there is in most areas of the country, but Harrogate are never going to rival Leeds on the pitch barring an FA Cup draw.
There would be no harm in shifting a couple of starlets in need of senior games to League Two and seeing what they are made of in a very tough division.
In other Leeds United news, Cody Gakpo has now revealed all about his failed move to Elland Road over the summer and where else he could have gone in the Premier League.