Leeds United are ramping up our pursuit of Manchester City’s in-demand youngster Ian Poveda, according to The Athletic.
The club plan to host the teenage forward at Thorp Arch on Thursday in a bid to convince him to join us this month, with Poveda’s contract at the Etihad Stadium due to expire in the summer.
Poveda will be offered a tour of our training facilities during his visit to West Yorkshire, as the club push to acquire the London-born winger either on loan or in a permanent deal.
United chiefs intend to hand Poveda the slot vacated by Tottenham Hotspur’s Jack Clarke in Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team plans, after the youngster was recalled midway through a one-season loan spell on the back of his £10million transfer.
The club have high expectations for what Poveda would be capable of achieving under Bielsa, noting that he is a Championship-ready talent despite playing so rarely for Manchester City’s first-team.
Poveda’s sole senior outing for the Citizens came in the EFL Cup Semi-Final Second-Leg win over Burton Albion last season, when he featured on the left-flank for the full 90 minutes.
Pep Guardiola named Poveda on the bench in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in October this term, but did not hand the forward any further minutes to partner his appearances for the Sky Blues’ Under 23s.
Poveda has made 11 outings in the Etihad Stadium natives’ youth side this season, scoring three goals and has been credited with two assists across all competitions.
Can Poveda take Clarke's vacant role in Bielsa's plans?
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Reports in Italy have suggested that we lodged a formal offer to Manchester City recently, after Poveda attended Torino’s 1-0 win over Bologna at the weekend and met with the Serie A outfit to discuss terms of a potential transfer.
Torino have been joined in the chase for Poveda’s signature by fellow Italian outfits Parma and Sassuolo, who are thought to have watched the 19-year-old in action in November.
In other Leeds United news, the club are reportedly now the ‘likely destination’ for a 15-cap forward.