Leeds United’s star academy talent Finlay Gorman is set to join Manchester City in the near future, with an agreement in place for the 15-year-old to join the Etihad giants.
The Whites have had a strong academy for some time now, consistently bringing through local talent into the senior setup, with Archie Gray the most recent to shine at Elland Road.
However, with Leeds currently in the Championship, their standing in relation to other setups across the country isn’t as strong as it could be.
Manchester City to sign Finlay Gorman?
Manchester City have agreed to sign 15-year-old Leeds sensation Finlay Gorman for a seven-figure fee, according to The Athletic.
It follows strong interest from the Etihad club this season, which saw Gorman dominate the Under-18 Premier League at Thorp Arch, becoming the youngest player ever to score a brace on debut.
Earlier in the season, a video of his best bits was shared on social media by Rising Ballers:
Leeds are set to receive a fee that is said to be a British record for a player of Gorman’s age when the deal is completed.
It’s a sad development for Leeds that we can’t stop the best club in the world from signing one of our best academy graduates, even though he’s not yet a professional.
While you can’t blame Gorman for this, it’s a worrying development for us and every other club outside the big six going forward.
Leeds have previously poached other young players, and it’s part of the ‘food chain,’ but to have him bought at this age for such a high price is a significant development.
Others in the Leeds squad are clearly destined for bright futures, not least Archie’s younger brother, Harry Gray, who has been playing with Gorman at youth level.
What’s troubling is that the club hasn’t been able to do anything about it other than try to persuade him otherwise.
We’ve paved the way for players like Gray, but it’s not enough when a juggernaut like Manchester City is present.
