Leeds United had a really disappointing season in the Championship this time around. The Whites started the campaign positively under the tutelage of Thomas Christiansen, played attractive football and inked most of the results in their favour. However, things started to unravel as the season progressed and eventually, Christiansen was sacked from the managerial position.
Although Paul Heckingbottom replaced him, Leeds United’s downward spiral showed no signs of slowing and the new manager failed to build a notable cohesion amongst his players. As a result, the Yorkshire based outfit could only muster 60 points during the 2017-18 campaign and finished at the 13th spot in the league table. In all fairness, they must have achieved much more than they actually did.
The team needs some significant grooming during the summer transfer window to bolster their chances of promotion next season. It is important that the club identifies players well in advance who will be able to enhance the quality of their arsenal and as per one of the latest reports by the News Letter, the Championship outfit are set to target Gavin Whyte in the summer.
Whyte garnered a fantastic season with Crusaders in the NIFL Premiership and has been named as the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year at the Northern Ireland Football Awards. He played a key role in his side’s dramatic title-winning success and the Belfast Telegraph has reported that he is keen to test new waters in the upcoming season.
Blessed with raw pace and sublime skills, Whyte scored 21 league goals this season and no wonder Leeds United are monitoring him very closely. The winger’s predatory instinct in the final third is his strong point and given that he is still young, he has immense scope of further development. The Peacocks are open to signing different players from various other leagues and Whyte seems to be someone who can meet their needs next season.
A move to English football should be a tempting option for the 22-year-old as well. Whyte has dazzled for the Northern Ireland Under-21 side too and thus, his eye-catching performances have not been limited to the club scene. However, he lacks any experience of the Championship or that of the level of the football and it might be a cause of concern for Leeds United’s decision makers. Thus, it will be interesting to see if this deal materialises in the summer.
