By Craig Scott

22nd May, 2020 | 9:37am

'Keep an eye on that one' - Phil Hay shares what he's heard about Leeds link with £13.6m teen

Leeds United fans need to “keep an eye” on speculation linking the club with soon-to-be Manchester City defender Yan Couto, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.

Couto, 17, is set to join Man City for £13.6million from Cortiba in the summer transfer window but Leeds did eye the Brazilian right-back ahead of that agreement.

Former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay reported back in March that although Man City are signing Couto, he could still head to Elland Road with the Premier League giants keen to send him out on loan.

Writing on The Athletic’s website this week, Hay has offered an update on Leeds’ transfer plans and has told fans that Couto is someone who they should watch out for.

“It’s obvious that if Leeds can’t retain Ben White they’ll need another first-rate centre-back,” he said. “They also have to make sure that they’re properly resourced at left-back. Manchester City’s Yan Couto, a right-sided Brazilian, is a player I’ve heard them strongly linked with. Keep an eye on that one.”

Couto is mainly a right-back, so why would Victor Orta want to sign him on loan?

You can understand why the Whites would have wanted Couto on a permanent deal because he’s someone who they could have nurtured in their Under-23s or used him as back-up for the first-team.

But Luke Ayling is bound to have the right-back slot nailed down while Stuart Dallas and Gaetano Berardi, if he signs a new contract, can play there too.

Couto is a good young player who has the potential to be big.

He has 13 caps for Brazil at Under-17 level and was part of the side that won the Under-17 World Cup last year.

The 17-year-old has also been compared to Dani Alves [Guardian] and who wouldn’t want the next Dani Alves at Elland Road?

In other Leeds United news, the Whites might have a second chance to sign this Fulham player with loan move on the cards.