According to reports from The Daily Star this afternoon, Arsenal and Manchester United will do battle with fellow Premier League sides Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City this summer for the signature of Leeds United midfielder Lewis Cook – dubbed by the tabloid as the next Paul Scholes.
The 18 year-old made his debut for the Yorkshire outfit against Bolton Wanderers at the start of the season and has since emerged as a key component in Neil Redfearn’s plans, making 37 Championship appearances whilst averaging 2.2 tackles, 2 interceptions and one created chance per match.
He’s also developing quite a reputation for England at junior level, boasting 24 caps between the U16 and U19 age groups, and last summer was involved in the Three Lions’ trophy-winning U17 European Championship campaign.
According to The Star, the midfielder’s progress this season has attracted plenty of interest from the top flight, with its five biggest clubs all competing for his signature.
An insider source has informed The Star; “Lewis knows he will have to leave Leeds to fulfill his ambitions. All the big clubs have been keeping close tabs on him and want him, so he will have his pick of the best and has a big decision to make. He’s wonderful talent and Leeds have no chance of keeping him at Elland Road. It’s just a matter of when, not if, he leaves and it should be quite a mad scramble this summer.”
If any of Cook’s Premier League suitors want to sign him this summer, however, The Star claim they’ll have to fork out around £12million.
long life leeds supporter pissed off what a shambles
sell him for 12 mil then replace him with some thirty something italian for 200 grand
What a joke, it’s all tabloid rubbish, Lewis is too good for any of the big Five, he will stay here where he belongs. He’s worth over £15m.