Leeds United have agreed to sign Spanish midfielder Madger Gomes as part of a radical revamp of the club’s academy, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim that United’s academy at Thorp Arch is mirroring the major upheaval of the first-team squad, which is now managed by Thomas Christiansen following the exit of Garry Monk.
Leeds have secured three deals this summer, converting the loans of Hadi Sacko and Pontus Jansson into permanent transfers, and landing a new arrival in midfielder Mateusz Klich, who signed from FC Twente for £1.5million last week.
The youth ranks are also undergoing major changes under new owner Andrea Radrizzani, who is searching for a new manager for the Under-23s following the exit of Jason Blunt, who will coach Cornish non-league side Mousehole next season.
The Championship club announced on their official website and academy Twitter account on Tuesday that they have taken advantage of Gomes’ availability after Liverpool announced that he will be released when his contract expires this weekend.
Left-footed central midfielder Gomes, 20, has signed a three-year deal with Leeds and is looking forward to making his mark with the youth team before vying for a first-team spot.
?? Madger Gomes has completed his move to #LUFC following his release by Liverpool. Read more at: https://t.co/9Rsx7O98wN pic.twitter.com/pZGTRE54VX
— LUFC Academy (@LUFCacademy) June 27, 2017
The Yorkshire Evening Post report that Leeds are looking to strengthen their Under-23s line-up after releasing four of their more experienced players at the end of last season.
Development squad regulars Jack Vann, Alex Purver, Billy Whitehouse and Michael Taylor were all mainstays of Blunt’s side, which lost the majority of its games last season in a wretched run of results.
Former Spain Under-18 international Gomes will arrive at Elland Road with a pedigree and reputation matched by few of the recent youth-team signings.
He spent eight years at La Liga club Villarreal before joining the Liverpool academy at the age of 17, where he spent three years before his release this summer.
Gomes, who made five appearances in Premier League 2 for Liverpool’s Under-23s last season, will initially link up with Leeds’ development squad but harbours ambitions of forcing his way into the first team.