Leeds United are unlikely to sign Juventus striker Moise Kean this month despite their willingness to up his wages, according to ESPN FC.
The sports site rate United’s chances of landing the wonderkid centre-forward, 17, in the January window at “15 per cent”.
ESPN FC report that Kean is expected to complete his season-long loan at Serie A club Hellas Verona, where he is enjoying regular first-team action despite his tender age.
It is said that Thomas Christiansen’s side are keen to add him to their attack and would be prepared to offer him a wage hike to get the deal done.
But Juventus, who own Kean’s rights, are “very pleased with his progress under manager Fabio Pecchia and would prefer he continue to acclimate himself to Italy’s top league rather than trying an experience abroad”.
The Italy Under-19 international has scored two goals in 16 matches this season after scoring prolifically for Juventus in age-group football.
Good move for Leeds?
The sky is the limit for Kean, who has long been tipped for huge things after cutting a swathe through the Juventus youth ranks. He has already made four appearances for the Italian giants’ senior side as well as playing regularly for Hellas Verona. Is he the proven scorer Leeds need for their promotion bid? Not really. He is another one who would come with the label ‘for the future’. Certainly, Kean is a precocious talent and he would be quite a coup. But United need a centre-forward who can deliver here and now.
This Is Futbol rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
It appears that a January deal is off the cards completely as Juventus want Kean to see out the season at Hellas Verona. Leeds are likely to have to wait until the summer to make a fresh push for the teenager, when they will need to be at their most persuasive to push through a deal.
This Is Futbol rating: 2/10