Leeds United dealt transfer blow as ‘highly-rated’ Erion Zabeli joins Brentford
Leeds United have been dealt a transfer blow as summer target Erion Zabeli has joined Brentford, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper noted that the Premier League outfit have seen off competition from the Whites and several other clubs to secure the defender’s signature.
The 18-year-old centre-back has reportedly joined Brentford from Oxford United, despite not making a senior appearance for the latter.
“Brentford have seen off competition from Leeds and Southampton to sign highly-rated defender Erion Zabeli from Oxford United,” according to the Daily Mail.
“Zabeli did not make a senior appearance for Oxford, though he did play four times for them in last season’s FA Youth Cup – as they reached the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Manchester City.”
Bright future
Despite not featuring at senior level for Oxford, the fact that several clubs were competing for Zabeli’s signature says a lot.
Born in London and therefore able to represent England, the centre-back is currently part of the Albanian Under-19 set-up.
It means he could have a huge decision to make on his international allegiance soon, but for now it is all about his club future, which now lies at Premier League high-flyers Brentford.
Given how the Bees have only just signed fellow centre-back Nathan Collins from Wolves for a club-record £23million fee, it remains to be seen exactly where Zabeli will fit in at the London club next season.
He could spend plenty of time in the youth setup, something he is familiar with having played four times for Oxford in last season’s FA Youth Cup, where the club made it to the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Manchester City.
In other Leeds United news, one Whites star has told his friends he’s excited to exit Elland Road, with a loan-to-buy on the cards.