Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is eying a deal to keep Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah at Elland Road for the 2020/21 season.
Nketiah joined the Whites on a one-season loan deal on Deadline Day in August, but has struggled to establish himself in Bielsa’s plans and has missed our last four Championship fixtures through an abdominal issue.
The England U21 stalwart’s limited game time in West Yorkshire has begun to concern club chiefs who feel Arsenal will recall him, as the Gunners can cut short Nketiah’s temporary stint in the second-tier if he does not play enough minutes before the start of the winter window.
Leeds executives are understood to be actively seeking alternatives should the Gunners recall Nketiah in January, but hope that he can see out the campaign as they feel the 20-year-old is a key part of Bielsa’s squad and that he will get game time here.
Nketiah has played ten times in the Championship since his Deadline Day arrival, with each of his league outings coming from the bench. The London-born striker has scored three times and assisted once during his 262 minutes of action, though, and hit two in two Carabao Cup starts in August.
Bielsa is keen to see Nketiah add to his minutes total for the Whites, and hopes that the £7.2million-rated prospect wants to stay at Elland Road for the remainder of the season and potentially more.
“I hope he continues here [beyond the January window] and I also hope that he wishes to stay with us,” Bielsa told reporters at his pre-game press conference on Thursday, via quotes by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“I think if he stays, his integration to Leeds is going to be good that he stays after January with us and one more year. So him and Leeds will be able to show the confidence that we are looking for in him and the club.”
Would you take Nketiah on loan for the 2020/21 season?
Yes, absolutely, keep him here
No, we will need better in the Prem
Pushed on the prospect of Nketiah playing at Elland Road in the 2020/21 season, Bielsa added: “That would be ideal, for him to have success in one group like Leeds.
“It is clear that Leeds consider Nketiah at a good level in this group, and what we try is that he feels that Leeds is the proper place for him to develop.
“But obviously, we cannot compete with top teams in the Premier League, but I am sure that if Nketiah succeeds here in Leeds, the next step is going to be the top clubs in the Premier.”