Leeds United were interested in a move for 18-year-old Manchester City midfielder Tommy Doyle earlier this summer, a report from The Manchester Evening News has claimed.
Doyle has made three senior appearances for City, all of which came last season, and it seems as though the teenager attracted plenty of attention from Elland Road, with Leeds having recruited a number of young players for their Under 23s side in the current transfer window.
According to the latest reports, Leeds were interested in signing the midfielder on a permanent basis, but Doyle has elected not to take up that option, instead putting pen to paper on a new contract with City until the summer of 2025.
It is thought that Doyle made that decision after being convinced by City’s plan for him going forward, with more first-team opportunities expected due to the heavy schedule this season.
Despite that, it seems a move for Doyle to Elland Road this summer is not completely out of the question, with the report going on to state that a loan move for the midfielder has not been completely ruled out for the coming campaign.
Given the potential that Doyle has shown for City, it will be disappointing for Leeds to miss out on this signing, although it is hard to imagine they will go in for the loan signing of Doyle.
Had they signed him permanently, you feel that as with several other signings this summer, it would be done with a view to the future, something which cannot be done with a loan move.
Indeed, a temporary deal for Doyle would have put the pressure on Leeds to give the midfielder first-team football this season, which is a risk given his lack of experience, and the importance of being competitive for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season.
As a result, you feel Leeds are better off looking for another young midfielder to fill the role they intended for Doyle permanently this summer.