Leeds United could sign Mason Cotcher amid Rangers and Brighton interest after perfect start
Mason Cotcher got off to the ideal start on trial with Leeds United as he looks to land a contract to remain with the club.
The former Sunderland youngster was brought in for the Whites to look at alongside Manchester United’s Majid Balogun last month, and duly scored the winner against his former side in a 1-0 victory for the under-18s on 24 February.
Cotcher, 17, has spent time with United and Arsenal since leaving the North-East this term but has yet to be given a full-time contract.
That may be set to change now that he has landed in West Yorkshire, with the Sunderland Echo reporting on 28 February that the forward could join the club after his match-winner.
He is highly-rated and has also been reported to be of interest to Rangers and Brighton, while the Black Cats tried to keep hold of him before his summer exit.
Former Sunderland youngster comes back to haunt his former side with Leeds United
Sunderland will be compensated if and when he does sign a deal elsewhere, and it would seem that scoring the winner against your former side is a good way to go about drawing the right kind of attention for Rob Etherington’s outfit.
There has been no shortage of sought-after talents arriving at Thorp Arch in recent seasons, but the rate of successful breakthroughs into the senior set-up has been disappointing.
Archie Gray is a true homegrown success story, but while the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood have threatened to come good from the “emerging talent” investment programme their developments have both stalled and the former has likely played his last game for the club as he is on a loan-to-buy at the Stadium of Light which is expected to be activated.
Mateo Joseph’s double in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea on 28 February was an encouraging sign, and while Cotcher may still have a way to go before he can hope for a similar pathway he certainly looks to have started in the right direction with Leeds United.
In other Leeds United news, a European director of football is hell-bent on raiding Elland Road for a signing.
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