McAvennie tells Leeds to snub £20m Arsenal offer and promote Gelhardt to first team
Frank McAvennie has urged Leeds United to give some of their talented youngsters a first team shot next season.
The former West Ham striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, wants to see youngsters play instead of a new signing.
On 5th June, Football Insider revealed Arsenal have offered the Yorkshire giants the chance to sign Eddie Nketiah for a fee of around £20million.
Nketiah, 22, was a bit-part player at Arsenal last season and has just one year left on his contract.
Leeds have a crop of talented youngsters coming through the ranks at Thorpe Arch.
The Whites' Under 23s side won their Premier League 2 division last season with players like Joe Gelhardt, Crysencio Summerville and Sam Greenwood impressing.
Several of these players featured on the bench for Leeds in the last few Premier League games of the season.
McAvennie insists these players should be given a chance to shine before the club spends £20million on Nketiah.
"I think a youngster like Gelhardt is better suited to that role," McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
"They have boys coming through and Leeds fans will want that. Every fan wants to see top players coming through their academy.
"They get given more time as well, there's more understanding there as a young player too.
"The fans won't immediately be on their case if it doesn't go right for them."
Gelhardt, 19, scored 11 goals in 16 Premier League 2 outings last season.
Similarly, Greenwood, also 19, scored 12 goals in 18 outings in the same competition.