Leeds United are working on several targets as they look to improve their squad after finishing 14th in their first season back in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke wants to see more ambition from the club’s board this summer, and the Whites are looking to bring in upgrades in at least three positions this season.
However, Leeds are also in the market to snap up young and upcoming talents as they want to have a talent pool ready to break into the first-team squad in the coming years.
And it has been claimed that Leeds are now on the verge of finalising the arrival of their first signing of the upcoming summer transfer window.
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Leeds set to sign Manchester United winger Silva Mexes
Silva Mexes has been heavily linked with a move away from Manchester United, and Leeds have been working on a deal to sign the 16-year-old winger for months.
The teenager has decided against extending his stay at Old Trafford and is now on the verge of joining Leeds in the upcoming summer transfer window.
An agreement is in place for Mexes to join Leeds, and he is expected to complete the formalities of the transfer in the coming days.
Leeds United are set to sign 16 year-old winger Silva Mexes from Manchester United.👀✍️
Mexes will sign his scholarship with Leeds before signing his first professional contract once he turns 17 early next year.âś…
He will be joining the U18 and U21 age groups from next season.… pic.twitter.com/6RPLl4CHiF
— The Talent Hunter 🎯 (@TalentHunter) June 8, 2026
According to The Talent Hunter, the teenager will initially sign a scholarship deal with Leeds, but an agreement is already in place for him to sign a professional contract with the Whites when he turns 17 in early 2027.
Leeds have been able to sell a move to the club to the youngster and his family, and he will initially link up with the Under-18 and Under-21 teams.
The Whites believe he is good enough to rise through the ranks and break into the first-team squad in the coming years.
The 49ers want to invest in youth
The 49ers are keen to strengthen the first-team squad this summer as they look to help Leeds United take another step forward in the 2026/27 season.
At the same time, there is a strong emphasis on improving the academy and attracting some of the best young talent available. The long-term aim is to develop more players capable of progressing into the first team and becoming regular contributors at the senior level.
Academies have also become an increasingly valuable asset for Premier League clubs from a financial perspective. Several sides have generated significant income by developing and selling homegrown players, creating an important additional revenue stream.
Even if some of these youngsters do not eventually establish themselves at Elland Road, Leeds could still make substantial profits from relatively modest investments in their development.
With financial sustainability playing an ever-greater role in modern football, building a stronger academy could prove to be both a sporting and financial advantage for Leeds in the years ahead.
