Leeds United youngster Jayden Lienou was called up by the Wales National team for their friendlies this week. It came as a bit of a surprise to the club’s fans.
The young defender had never played a game for the first team this season. However, in the last two games, Daniel Farke decided to reward him with a place in the matchday squad.
Lienou trained with the first team for those games, but did not play. The teenager has made 19 appearances with the Leeds U21 side this season.
When Craig Bellamy spoke on the young defender, he said he was impressed with what he had seen. The Wales boss said Jayden Lienou is a player the national team have been keeping an eye on.
Leeds signed him from Manchester City last year, as a highly rated prospect. Lienou joined the team in the same window as former Liverpool defender Louis Enahoro-Marcus.
Leeds United eye move for wonderkid
While Leeds United have a solid first team, and are going to improve it come this summer, the club have been making key moves for young players. Harry Gray, who has come through the academy, will certainly play a huge part in the club going forward.
The Whites could add another teenage start this summer, as they eye a move for Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegovic.
According to the Daily Mail, the youngster is being pursued by Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Alajbegovic was named in the Bosnia squad for the World Cup despite being a teenager. Per reports, Leverkusen have held initial talks with the respective clubs and a fee of £18 million has been rumoured.
It is most likely that any deal for the youngster will be put on hold until after this summer’s tournament.
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Leeds will hold all the cards in transfer race
Among the Premier League clubs mentioned, Leeds United will arguably offer the player the best project.
Going to Aston Villa or Arsenal would not guarantee a path to the first team. But as seen with Wilfried Gnonto and Harry Gray, young players can make it into the first team under Daniel Farke.
Alajbegovic is a wide player, who can also play across the front three.
His 13 goals in all competitions this season in Austria has shown that he can play at a high level.
Going into this summer, winger is a position of need for Leeds United. And if they can swoop in and sign the Bosnian, it would be a real coup for the club.
