Championship

Leeds given boost in pursuit of Man City centre-forward

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Image for Leeds given boost in pursuit of Man City centre-forward

OPINION

Manchester City are ready to loan out dazzling young centre-forward Lukas Nmecha – and Leeds United could be the beneficiaries.

It is a tantalising and mouthwatering prospect for the Championship giants and their supporters as the Marcelo Bielsa effect truly begins.

The Sun claim Pep Guardiola is such a huge admirer of Bielsa he is ready to allow four of his best young players to head out on loan from the Premier League giants to Elland Road next season.

It said Leeds are “desperate” to sign England Under-21 goalkeeper Angus Gunn on a season-long loan deal and are also targeting Tosin Adarabioyo , Brahim Diaz and Lukas Nmecha from the City youth ranks.

Guardiola is ready to green light the exits of the quartet and hand them over to a manager he trusts and respects.

Bielsa played down the praise of the City manager at his Leeds unveiling yesterday (Monday), claiming it would be false to attribute his coaching acumen to the development of either Guardiola or Tottenham’s feted Mauricio Pochettino.

But what is certain is that the Argentine who will patrol the Leeds dugout next season has a standing that gives his new club a major transfer market advantage.

It would be a huge coup for the Yorkshire club if they were to secure Nmecha for the 2018-19 campaign given his immense potential.

Aged 19, the striker has been at City since he was nine and has progressed through the ranks to the point where he has made three senior appearances, including two in the Premier League.

Comfortable holding the ball up or running in behind defences, the striker has been prolific in recent seasons, scoring 27 times in 35 appearances for the club’s Under-23s after ripping it up at Under-18s level with 15 goals in 16 matches.

The goal machine is now ready for senior football and, with Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and company blocking his path at Etihad Stadium, the next stage for his talent could be Elland Road.

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