Leeds United forward Oliver Sarkic has become the latest young player to leave Elland Road this summer after joining League One side Burton Albion.

Sarkic joins a long list of young players that have joined other clubs in this transfer window, including most notably Jack Clarke, Mallik Wilks, and Aapo Halme.

The 22-year-old has joined the Brewers on a permanent transfer after two years with the Yorkshire club.

Sarkic joined from Benfica permanently in January 2018 following a six-month loan with the Whites but has never made an appearance for the Leeds senior side. 

He was a regular for Carlos Corberan’s Under-23s in his first season at Elland Road but was sent out on loan to Spanish third-tier side Barakaldo CF for the 2018/19 campaign.

The forward, who international experience with the Montenegro age-group sides, made 12 appearances for the Spanish club but found the net just once.

In a statement on the club website, Leeds said: “We wish Oliver the best of luck for the future.”

The 22-year-old has suffered from injuries over the last 18 months and, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, indicated he did not want to wait for first-team football.

Sarkic said: “I'm really impatient to make my mark on English football. Injuries and other circumstances mean I have been quite unfortunate in the last year-and-a-half but now I'm ready to show what I can do.”

Burton begin their League One season against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

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The Verdict

This seems like a good move for all parties.

After his loan last season it didn’t seem that Sarkic was near Leeds’ first-team plans so a permanent move to allow him an opportunity elsewhere seems the best option.

Sarkic gets a chance to prove himself in senior football and a fresh start away from a club where things never really got going for him.

Burton have added a hungry, young striker, who has said himself he wants to “show what [he] can do”.

His time at Benfica and Leeds show that this is a player with some potential and Nigel Clough will be hoping that he can unlock that for the Brewers.