Leeds United make approach to sign Belgium sensation Mandela Keita
Leeds United have approached OH Leuven with an enquiry about Belgium under-21 midfielder Mandela Keita, according to Nieuwsblad journalist David Van den Broeck.
The 20-year-old is currently playing for Antwerp, on loan from fellow Belgian club Leuven, with the former having a £8.8million (€10m) purchase option as part of the deal.
He is also reportedly attracting interest from Championship clubs Blackburn and Norwich, with talks about his future yet to take place.
“Several English clubs follow Mandela Keita closely,” Van den Broeck shared on Twitter. “Leeds, Blackburn and Norwich have already inquired about the Belgian midfielder.
“Antwerp can still exercise the spicy purchase option (£8.8m, €10m) if it finds an agreement with the OH Leuven mercenary, but talks about that are yet to come.”
Promising news
Keita made a January loan switch to Antwerp and has impressed in his brief spell at the club so far, with the youngster already in double figures for appearances.
He is impressing in midfield, with Antwerp currently sitting in third place in the Belgian league table.
The club will be hoping that they can persuade the 20-year-old to sign on a permanent basis amid the potential to play European football, but the opportunity to play in England will also be a very tantalising one for the Belgium under-21 player.
Leeds could be playing Championship football next season, and while that could be a difficulty when recruiting players, the idea of helping the Whites immediately bounce back to the Premier League would be an exciting one.
Current defensive midfielder Weston McKennie doesn’t look like transforming his loan deal at Elland Road into a permanent one, while Tyler Adams could move on in the summer for pastures new, meaning Leeds will be in need of new midfield talent.
In other Leeds United news, an “astounded” Tony Dorigo has been left struggling to understand events at Elland Road as the Whites recently collapsed against Crystal Palace.