BBC Sport pundit Noel Whelan has insisted that Leeds United were right to reject offers for academy defender Bryce Hosannah in January, after his father, Roger, confirmed there had been interest during the winter market.
Roger revealed in a recent interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post that a Scottish Premiership side had presented a firm offer for the 20-year-old right-back, but Director of Football Victor Orta declined the bid.
But interest could re-emerge once the coronavirus pandemic has eased and a confirmed date for the summer window is announced, as Roger and Bryce are playing a juggling act by balancing the feeling that first-team football will soon be needed.
At Thorp Arch, Roger feels his son is working under a ‘world-class’ coach in Marcelo Bielsa and has benefited from his time with Carlos Corberan in the youth ranks, and Whelan would urge the talented youngster to stay put for now as his time will come at Elland Road.
“When we look back throughout the years, our development squads and Under 23s have been very, very good to the club,” Whelan told Football Insider. “We’ve got the right structure, we’ve got the right people in. We’re seeing a flurry of good young talent through the academy and showing the proof that it works.
“You can’t let a player go that’s wanted, other clubs will see the talent and you’ve got to let them flourish at the club that he’s at. That time will come for him and it will probably be, hopefully, sooner rather than later.
“We know how demanding the leagues are. Pressure and competition is healthy, especially when it’s coming from young players who are hungry as well. They’ll be showing no fear. The respect will be there for the players ahead of them but they won’t be showing any fear about taking their places.”
Hosannah is yet to make his first-team Whites debut but has been named on the bench by Bielsa once before, with the Argentine introducing the London-born defender to the senior fold for last December’s West Yorkshire Derby win away to Huddersfield Town.
Bielsa had also included the defender in last summer’s pre-season tour of Australia, but a dislocated shoulder in the first U23s match ruled Hosannah out for four months. Yet the 20-year-old still penned new terms in September, showing the club feel there is a bright future ahead for the youngster.
In other Leeds United news, Director of Football Victor Orta’s plans for the summer transfer window have been thrown into disarray.