da betsson: A couple of weeks ago reports emerged about Leeds potentially signing Yan Couto on loan from Manchester City next season.
da pinnacle: Given the fact that one reputable journalist had recently stated that right-back was Leeds’ position of the season, it was somewhat surprising to see that they were apparently in the market for a youngster recently compared to Dani Alves.
However, what makes this even more baffling is the fact that Leeds already have a young right-back ready to breakthrough.
Indeed, Bryce Hosannah has been putting in some eye-opening performances for the U23s this season.
After an academy game that saw both Ian Poveda and Jean-Kevin Augustin make their first appearances in a Leeds shirt, the one player Graham Smyth wanted to wax-lyrical about was Hosannah.
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“The player who stood out for me the most is Bryce Hosannah at right-back, he looks a real player,” Smyth said (Inside Elland Road 4/2/20 39:50).
“He’s very good, he’s just been very unfortunate with injuries, he’s had two lengthy long-term layoffs, and that’s meant that his progress towards the first-team has been halted. Obviously he’s been in a few squads, and I think he went to Australia. So he’s one to watch.”
Hosannah seems to be a player of real talent and ability if we’re going off of Smyth’s verdict, and the club seem to have a fair bit of faith in him, awarding him a new contract earlier this season.
Leeds have a clear choice. Sign Couto on loan for a season and see Hosannah drop down the pecking order even further or forget the Brazilian and hand a chance to their own homegrown talent.
Does Couto have a higher ceiling than Hosannah? Probably, he’s already moved for €15m (£13.7m) and has been compared to a former Barcelona star, but Leeds won’t get to reap the rewards of his development if he comes in on loan for a year.
Hosannah may not be as good as Couto, but at least Leeds will get something out of giving him a chance rather than doing Man City a favour that won’t aid the club in the long-run.
In other news, this has to be considered Leeds’ biggest blunder.