Leeds United agree fee to sign Lewis Bate from Chelsea
Leeds United have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign midfield talent Lewis Bate, according to The Athletic journalist Simon Johnson.
Writing via his personal Twitter account on Tuesday, Johnson reported that Leeds and Chelsea have agreed a sell-on clause in the deal that takes Bate, 18, to Elland Road.
It is understood that discussions are now underway over personal terms and the London-born midfielder could undergo a medical tomorrow (Wednesday).
One for next season?
Bate has shown a lot of potential at Chelsea.
Although he’s never made a senior appearance for them – and never based on this update – he has made the bench twice for the Champions League winners and is highly rated by coaches.
According to a previous story by Johnson on The Athletic website, “there are some coaches who regard Bate as a better player than [Billy] Gilmour” when he was 18.
It is understood that Bate wants out of Chelsea to increase his chances of getting senior football elsewhere and has rejected a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
It sounds as though this has been a simple to deal to pull off as long as no one comes in late and gazumps our bid to sign the talented central midfielder.
Leeds do need additions in that area of their senior squad so it will be interesting to see whether Bate is someone who comes in for the Under-23s or is there to add some depth to Marcelo Bielsa’s options in the first team.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are joint-favourites to sign this forward from a Champions League club.