MOT View: Leeds could have found Hernandez replacement with player compared to Bernardo Silva
Manchester City winger Ian Poveda looks as though he is set to join Leeds United on a permanent transfer before the end of the week.
The Athletic has reported that the 19-year-old is set to join the Whites at some point over the coming days with his contract at the Etihad due to expire at the end of the season.
It is understood that Marcelo Bielsa sees Poveda as ready to play in the Leeds first-team and director of football Victor Orta is also a fan of the teenage talent.
Poveda is also said to be unsettled at Man City due to being demoted to the Under-23s so his willingness to drop down a division to seek out first-team football says a lot about his character and how determined he is to improve.
Poveda also comes across as someone who Leeds could be eyeing to be a long-term replacement for ageing star Pablo Hernandez.
The 34-year-old Spaniard still has another two and a half years on his contract at Elland Road and while his performances are still at a very high standard, we have seen that he is starting to become increasingly susceptible to injury.
There also has to be a bit of doubt about whether Hernandez can step up to the Premier League and continue to deliver the way he has done in the Championship.
We all love Pablo, but these are reasonable concerns for a team that could head for a new dawn by the time this season is over.
And Poveda might be seen as someone who Bielsa can build on in that new era.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Poveda has been compared to Manchester City stars Bernardo Silva and David Silva for his style of play.
The winger, who can also play as an attacking midfielder, has shown great creativity in the Man City youth set-up while he is also good at driving into opposition penalty areas from the wide positions and causing havoc among defences.
Does he sound familiar?
Hernandez is going to be in the Leeds midfield for every game between now and the end of the season unless he gets injured again, suspended or his form suffers a serious drop.
However there is no harm in planning for the future and a 19-year-old who is viewed as first-team ready and compared to such great players in Bernanda and David Silva is bound to be someone fans can be excited about.
In other Leeds United news, it has been confirmed that a player has left Elland Road on a potential permanent deal.