This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa looks like he has added to his ranks after Manchester City winger Ian Poveda had a medical ahead of a proposed January move, according to a report by The Athletic.
The 19-year-old, is yet to make a first-team appearance at City but has an impressive youth career behind him, having played at Barcelona’s world-famous La Masia academy, before moving to Brentford’s academy and then the Etihad.
So is Poveda likely to see much first team action at Elland Road, if his transfer is confirmed?
We discuss.........
Alfie Burns
“Look, he’s going to enter the picture behind Jack Harrison and Helder Costa, whilst Pablo Hernandez is likely to shift back out wide when Adam Forshaw is fit in midfield.
“However, Leeds have signed him as a first-team player, and he’s probably a better fit than someone like Jack Clarke, particularly as he’s a permanent signing.
“I’m expecting to see him on the bench to start with, with maybe the odd cameo here and there.
“As the season grows, who knows, but there’s a lot on the line at Leeds at the moment and I’m not sure 19-year-old Poveda can carry that.
“I’d love to be proved wrong, though.”
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Kris Smith
“I think he will get a decent amount of time in the side, whether that be as an impact sub or as a starter because Helder Costa hasn’t quite hit the heights that many expected of him.
“Poveda comes in as a direct replacement to Jack Clarke so there could be some reservations over his game time after Clarke played just once in the first half of the season, but I don’t believe Marcelo Bielsa was ever convinced on him, along with the fact that he was the ‘sixth loan player’ in the squad and missed out a lot.
“Poveda’s permanent move means he will slot straight into Leeds’ matchday squad and give the side much more creativity from the bench with a similar style of play that we see from Costa.
“The arriving winger will know that he can’t expect to play every minute of every game but the move down in division will do him wonders to push on and finally settle into a senior squad, having toiled with Man City’s embarrassment of riches.”
Jacob Potter
"I think it’s a strange move to be honest.
"It seems like a very similar scenario to that of Jack Clarke, as I just can’t see Poveda being given regular minutes by Leeds’ first team this season.
"I can’t see him getting in the starting XI ahead of the likes of Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez in the Leeds team anytime soon.
"If Leeds were to win promotion to the Premier League this term, then you have to imagine that they would add further depth to their side to adjust to life in the top-flight.
"This would only push Poveda further down the pecking order at Elland Road, so it seems like somewhat of an odd move for both parties involved.
"Poveda will have to remain patient this season, as Bielsa isn’t known for making too many changes to his starting XI, especially if they’re challenging for promotion into the top-flight."