Leeds United have prided themselves on their young talent for some time. The Whites have pushed to recruit some of the best young stars Europe has to offer over the years and they’re currently seeing the benefits of that in the first-team.
The likes of Pascal Struijk, Crysencio Summerville, Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt have played important roles for Jesse Marsch this season while U21s striker Mateo Joseph made his Premier League debut at Spurs last weekend. However, with the January transfer window approaching, the club may have a decision to make on what is best for those youngsters who aren’t getting the first-team minutes they need to progress.
A short-term loan move might be the best option for a number of players in 2023 if they are to continue their progress at Elland Road, picking up regular minutes and testing themselves in senior football.
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Here’s a look at five United youngsters who could benefit from a loan move in January.
Cody Drameh
The right-back was linked away from Elland Road in summer, but he remained at the club and backed himself to compete for a spot in Marsch’s side. He has made one start for the Whites, appearing in the defeat to Brentford in September, but with Luke Ayling returning to full fitness in that one, he hasn’t had a sniff of the first-team since.
Instead Drameh’s game time has come with the U21s, making seven appearances in the youth side and, quite frankly, looking too strong for that level. He’s been one of Michael Skubala’s best and he’s highly thought of but it’s clear the 20-year-old needs senior minutes to continue thriving.
The Whites won’t be short of suitors should they make him available and a top end Championship side would likely jump at the chance to bring in such a talent.
Sonny Perkins
The striker only joined United in the summer, arriving from West Ham United after excelling in the Hammers’ youth ranks, but he’s already one of the club’s most exciting young talents. He hit the ground running at Elland Road, scoring eight goals in his first seven games and making a strong impression when asked to train with the first-team under Marsch.
The 18-year-old more than looked the part when he made his Whites debut last week against Wolves in the Carabao Cup and he’ll be looking for more senior minutes when the action returns after Christmas. With Premier League chances set to be few and far between, the option of a loan in the Championship or even at the top end of League One might be an attractive one to Perkins.
Clubs would be queuing up for the chance to take Perkins for a few months and provide him with the game time he needs at this stage of his career.
Leo Hjelde
Hjelde is seen as a member of Marsch’s first-team, the head coach made that clear when speaking about his youngsters in last week’s pre-match press conference, but the Norwegian is still waiting to make his first Premier League appearance of the season. He has made two outings in the Carabao Cup and three for the U21s this season, with appendix surgery ruling him out for a month or so, but he’ll be hoping for more over the second half of the season.
Of course, he is learning plenty from training with the likes of Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente and Robin Koch every day, but there is an argument to be made that he’ll learn even more with regular senior game time. The club will be keen not to rush Hjelde, who joined from Celtic last year, but it seems his best chance of picking up first-team minutes this season might be on loan.
Kristoffer Klaesson
Klaesson is highly thought of at Elland Road but it’s clear that his chances of appearing in the first-team this season look slim. Illan Meslier’s status as Leeds’ number one is unlikely to change any time soon, while Joel Robles was the man Marsch turned to for the Carabao Cup clash against Wolves last week.
Klaesson, who turns 22 next week, would more than likely have to make do with U21s football if he sticks around beyond the January window. As such, a loan in the lower leagues might just be the best option for the Norwegian youth international as he looks to continue his growth as a goalkeeper.
Picking up first-team experience is vital in the development any young custodian and Klaesson can learn plenty by stepping into another environment.
Alfie McCalmont
McCalmont has spent the last two seasons on loan away from Elland Road, racking up more than 60 Football League appearances during spells with Oldham and Morecambe. However, the 22-year-old has spent this season so far with the Whites U21s, stepping in and out of Michael Skubala’s Premier League 2 starting XI.
The midfielder has reached the age where first-team football must be seen as a necessity now, though, and a move in January looks the Northern Ireland international’s best bet.
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