Leeds United youngster Max Dean could be heading for the exit doors of Thorp Arch, with Aberdeen an option for the 18-year-old.
This has been suggested by reliable Leeds journalist Graham Smyth, who has been speaking on the latest edition of the Inside Elland Road podcast.
Jesse Marsch’s men are set to get their 2022/23 campaign underway at the weekend following what has been a summer of change in Yorkshire.
Six new faces have arrived and two of the club’s best players have departed, but it seems their business is not done just yet, with more departures a possibility.
Dean is yet to make his competitive debut for the Whites and Smyth believes his future could be in the Scottish Premiership with the Dons, who are believed to be interested in taking him on loan:
He said: “Someone spoke to me yesterday [Tuesday] to say that Aberdeen were an option for Max Dean, which would be interesting. Obviously, he’d be following in the footsteps of Ryan Edmondson who went up there, didn’t have the best of times at Aberdeen, but it was kind of another important step for him.
“I’d like to see Max Dean have a crack at men’s football. I know he’s still very young, but he has that physical edge to his game. He’s also got that edge to his attitude.
“He feels like another competitor to me, who could probably do with real competitive matches where the points mean something.”
TIF Thoughts on Smyth’s comments…
Despite just being 18 years old, Dean has played quite a bit of U23s football with the Whites, having racked up 18 appearances last season alone.
Would a loan move be the best option for Dean?
Yes
No
And the youngster has fared pretty well at that level, with five goals last season as well as a goal in his two appearances in the U18s league (via Transfermarkt).
Given the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood are likely to be ahead of Dean in Marsch’s pecking order, we think a move away to play senior football could be a great move for him.
Having not even come off the bench for Leeds’s first team, it will be a big ask for him to go up to Scotland and score goals, however, it could certainly prove big for his development.