Leeds United take Manchester United and former Sunderland attacking talents on trial
Leeds United have taken teenage forwards Mason Cotcher and Majid Balogun on trial, according to LUFC Youth.
The Whites academy-focused outlet reported on 17 February that the pair of young attackers were coming in at Thorp Arch having both been involved in the England set up at age-group levels.
Cotcher left Sunderland last summer and was training with Arsenal earlier this season amid interest from Rangers [Mike McGrath, 24 November], while Balogun had joined United as an under-14s player two years ago [Lambeth Tigers on Instagram].
LUFC Youth wrote: “LUFC have taken [ex] Sunderland attacker Mason Cotcher & Manchester United attacker Majid Balogun on trial Cotcher has represented England at Under-17s level while Balogun has attended England Under-15s camps.”
Leeds United try out Cotcher and Balogun for future
The Whites have been active in recent years looking to add highly-rated youngster to the academy set up and that will no doubt continue.
If the latest duo end up with Leeds United contracts they will be tasked with following Archie Gray as a breakthrough from Thorp Arch to the first team in recent years.
Off the back of a series of previous investments departing permanently, or on loans that will see their Elland Road contracts expire, during January the spotlight is on the developing talent programme at the club.
Leo Hjelde, Sean McGurk, Lewis Bate and Ian Poveda all moved on in January to follow a number over recent years, while Diogo Monteiro has yet to show signs of a step up, and even those who have such as Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Cresswell have been having difficulties of their own in seeing the field.
Cotcher and Balogun are clearly talented teenagers, but the former was also on trial at Manchester United last month and hasn’t yet been picked up [Sunderland Echo, 30 January], while the latter is likely a few years yet off senior football.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit is itching to see a “huge” Whites clash with so much riding on it.
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