Leeds in hunt for highly-rated forward, title-holders green light January deal – report
Leeds United are in the hunt to sign Benfica’s highly-rated forward Chris Willock on loan in January, according to a report.
The Mirror claimed in their live transfer blog on Friday morning [11:14AM] that Newcastle, Bournemouth and Millwall are also hoping to snap up Willock, 19, next month after Benfica gave him to green light to return to England on a temporary basis until the end of the season.
The European giants only signed Willock from Arsenal in the summer but he is yet to make an appearance in the first-team, despite training with them on a regular basis.
It is understood that the Portuguese title-holders are eager to send out the England Under-20 international on loan for his to “accelerate” his development in senior football.
For Benfica B this term, the forward, who can play as a striker or on the left wing, has made 11 league appearances and scored two goals.
He was a very highly-rated youngster at Arsenal and it shocked many that he left the Emirates for Benfica in the summer.
The attacker has represented England at five different youth levels and one day could feature in the senior squad.
Football Insider verdict
Leeds could do with a new striker in the summer, but they would need someone who can come in straight away and start finding the net every other game, not someone who will be on loan and just making the odd appearance. Willock is too inexperienced to come into the Whites side over the in-form Kemar Roofe or even Pierre-Michael Lasogga. Leeds’ wide options are also fine as they are, so there is no need to sign Willock to play there. Thomas Christiansen must focus primarily on his defence in January first, finding a new striker should be his last worry.
In other Leeds United news, it has been confirmed that a seven-figure bid has been made for this 21-goal striker wanted by the Whites.
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