Leeds United: Whites launch talent search
Leeds United are casting their eye over the younger ranks of the Premier League as manager Simon Grayson weighs up possible loan signings before the start of the Championship term.
Grayson has revealed that he is interested in pursuing the type of deal which brought teenager Sanchez Watt to Elland Road on a temporary basis last season.
Watt left Arsenal for a six-week stay with Leeds during the closing stages of their League One campaign and the 19-year-old could emerge as a transfer target again having impressed over the course of six appearances.
Grayson is attempting to identify potential options after embracing to the idea of strengthening his squad with young talent sourced from the Premier League, a strategy which also secured striker Sam Vokes, from Wolverhampton Wanderers last term.
Grayson said: "I think that's something we'll be looking at again. It's an avenue we and other teams have taken in the past and I'd be stupid not to see what's available to me.
"We had Sanchez Watt here last season and he made a really good contribution. He impressed us and he's an example of the sort of talent you can find in the Premier League.
"It's often be a win-win situation for everyone because the players get the opportunity to come out and play football and you benefit from their talent.
"We're looking at what's out there and these sort of deals often happen later in the summer but it's not a path I'm afraid to go down."
Watt came to Leeds in the last hours of the Football League's emergency loan window and he made his only start in United's 4-1 rout of MK Dons a fortnight before the end of the term.
His other five appearances came as a substitute.
The winger planned to fight for a place in Arsenal's plans this summer but he is on the very fringes of Arsene Wenger's first-team squad and the London club may be happy to release him on a temporary deal again if Leeds decide to renew their interest in Watt.
Wenger has made a habit of sending Arsenal's younger prospects for spells in the lower leagues and Grayson believes other Premier League managers will do the same this summer, with many Championship clubs more than happy to take up available options.
"I doubt whether we're the only club in the Championship thinking about this," Grayson said. "There isn't a lot of money around at the moment and everyone will be casting their net as wide as possible.
"That's not to say we aren't trying to make more permanent signings because we are, but you can't ignore the value of loans from the Premier League."
Leeds have struck four permanent deals since the end of last season, bringing in keeper Kasper Schmeichel, defenders Federico Bessone and Paul Connolly and striker Billy Paynter. (YEP)
