Leeds United are close to signing Manchester City prospect Ian Poveda, after the 19-year old has reportedly passed his medical.
The English teenager, who was previously in the youth academy of Chelsea and Barcelona, and has made one senior appearance under Pep Guardiola.
As per Phil Hay of The Athletic, Poveda was undergoing a medical at the Championship side yesterday, and DailyMail have claimed that the teenager has passed his medical and Leeds are close to signing him.
Italian side Torino were also interested in the English winger, whose parents are Colombian, but it seems like Leeds will end up signing the talented player.
Poveda was with the Chelsea, Barcelona, and Arsenal academy, before joining City in 2016. The teenager has played for England in age group football, having recently represented the England Under-20 team.
His contract with the current Premier League champions was set to expire at the end of the season.
What are Leeds United getting in Ian Poveda?
Poveda is yet another young, English exciting prospect who is technically brilliant and is touted to become a big player in the future.
The 19-year-old is a player who can play on either wing, while he has also played as a striker. Poveda is a very good dribbler with every trick in the book, and has the pace to get past defenders.
The diminutive winger makes quick directional changes and tries to beat his man often. Pace and dribbling ability is one thing that Leeds have lacked this season, despite having the lion’s share of possession in almost every game.
Poveda is a joy to watch and would be a great option for Marcelo Bielsa in the Leeds United squad. He could compete with another Manchester City player, Jack Harrison, on the left side of attack for Leeds, or offer Bielsa the option of playing off the right as an inverted winger.
The youngster may not have the defensive attributes that Bielsa demands from his players, but he is a big threat going forward, which would be a bonus for Leeds, who have squandered opportunities in recent games.
Under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, Poveda could become a top player and help Leeds make their much-awaited Premier League return.