Leeds United have a long history of developing world class players over the last 20 to 30 years and can boast having players like Rio Ferdinand, James Milner, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate and current star Kalvin Phillips come through their highly-acclaimed youth system. However, at what point is it appropriate to divert funds from the transfers to the youth teams, especially the Under 23's squad, to the full team?
Over the past two summer transfer windows, from 2019 to 2021, Leeds have spent money developing their first team with the signings of superstar Raphinha and other key players like Rodrigo. However, what has not been acknowledged by many outside of Leeds circles is the investment in the youth teams. Here is just a few of the youth team signings Leeds have made over the same period and how much each player cost:
Sam Greenwood (ST, £1.53 million from Arsenal U18)
Joe Gelhardt (ST, £900 thousand from Wigan)
Crysencio Summerville (RW, £1.35 million from Feyenoord U19)
Cody Drameh (RB, £396 thousand from Fulham U23)
Lewis Bate (CM, (1.5 million from Chelsea U23)
Leo Hjelde (CB, from Celtic Reserves)
Liam McCarron (LB, from Carlisle)
There has been an investment in the youth team which has been an overall positive. However, it has been noticeable that when asked to step into the first team, especially recently when injuries have impacted so many senior players, the standard of these youth players has not been good enough. Joe Gelhardt has shown flashes of the potential every Leeds fan knows he possesses. Leo Hjelde has also been solid in the past few matches. Other than those two the others have been disappointing. Drameh has looked out of his depth and Sam Greenwood was practically irrelevant when he had a few appearances with Summerville and Bate not fairing much better.
It begs the question of whether this investment in the youth team is going to result in players that are going to make an impact in the first team and push the likes of Bamford, Phillips, Firpo or Cooper? Or even if these players can add anything to the first team when asked to step in when other players are out with Covid or injured (which is likely considering how this season has gone so far).
Obviously, these guys are still youth players so it would be unfair to cast too many doubts at this early stage of their career but with the need to have youth players involved in match day squads (including 15 and 16 year olds). However, we need these players to be able to hold their own when called upon in the first team otherwise they will end up like so many other players and be sold to League 1 and League 2 clubs for undisclosed fees or being released on a free.
What do you think about the current situation of the Leeds youth teams? Are the players in the current youth set up good enough to break into the first team at some point? Can Leeds develop a new 'Golden Generation'?
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