Journalist: Leeds in genuine hot pursuit of colossus from top flight champions
Leeds United’s reported interest in 19-year-old centre back Aapo Halme from HJK Helsinki is “genuine” and that he is a target for the club’s development squad, according to a journalist.
The Yorkshire Post’s Phil Hay has claimed on his personal Twitter account that the Whites are indeed in hot pursuit of the Finnish youth international, with claims from his home country that they are keen on capturing him from his current club to bolster their under-21 side.
Finnish news outlet HS had claimed before the turn of 2018 that the Whites were still in the hunt for the youngster after moves for him were turned down in the summer, with Helsinki, who finished as Finnish top flight champions in the last season, having to contend with an injury crisis in defence.
The colossal defender, who stands at 6’8″, has four caps for Finland’s under-19 squad as well as two appearances for the under-21s, and has one Europa League qualifying appearance to his name this season, with the Finnish league starting in April and finishing in October.
He has a total of 36 appearances for the senior side at Helsinki, having broken through their youth ranks.
Football Insider verdict
Leeds are obviously looking to strengthen their squad in the January window, but a move for Halme seems a strange one. At 19-years-old, he is reaching an age where he should be challenging for a place on the fringes of the first team squad, when players need to test themselves in order to improve. While the English second tier is undoubtedly a league filled with more talent than Finland’s top flight, sending him into the reserve side is not going to help him develop as they want. Really, he should be ready to act as back up for the senior side, and if he is not ready for that now, will he ever be able to feature for the Whites?
In other Leeds United news, Eunan O’Kane has made this admission after the Championship draw with Nottingham Forest.
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