Phil Hay has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Darko Gyabi.
What's the latest?
In a recent post on Twitter and report for The Athletic, the journalist revealed that, following the Whites' acceptance of a £42m bid from Manchester City for Kalvin Phillips, Victor Orta is now closing in on a £5m deal for the 18-year-old midfielder from the Etihad Stadium.
Hay added in a further tweet that the England under-18 international is set to sign a four-year deal at Elland Road following the completion of his medical with Jesse Marsch's side, which is expected to take place next week.
In his tweets, the journalist said: "Leeds lining up 18-year-old centre midfielder Darko Gyabi to come in the opposite direction from City. Set to sign a four-year deal with Leeds after a medical next week."
"Ideal number 8"
The prospect of losing a homegrown talent such as Kalvin Phillips will undoubtedly come as a gutting blow to Orta, Marsch and supporters of the Whites, but with the seemingly imminent signing of Gyabi, it appears as if Leeds have landed a player who could well go on to match the England international's impact in the middle of the park further down the line.
Indeed, since making the move from Milwall to Manchester City in November 2018, the midfielder has become something of a stalwart in the heart of City's under-18 and under-23 sides, with nine goals and two assists in 24 appearances for the former and one goal and three assists in 15 outings for the latter.
[snack-amp-story url= "https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2" title="Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!"]
Furthermore, the teenager who Neil Harris dubbed an "exceptional young player" has already earned some high praise in his short career, none more so than from Harry Brooks, the co-founder of CREATE talent agency.
He stated of Gyabi following news of the teenager's proposed switch to LS11: "Leeds United are signing a wonderful talent and class young man in Darko Gyabi. He will have made his Premier League debut by the end of the season, I have zero doubts. If you're building an ideal number 8 in a lab, you'd come up with something like him."
Brooks added: "There is no downside to this transfer from a Leeds United perspective. It's unlikely he will be signed with a view to immediate first-team football. He will simply force his way in by being so good. It's as good as a youth transfer as you can get."
As such, while Gyabi is by no means a direct and readymade replacement for Phillips, it is clear to see just how talented a prospect the 18-year-old is. Hay's update that Orta is closing in on the England youth international as his fourth summer signing is undoubtedly fantastic news for the future of the Whites.
AND in other news: Victor Orta now plotting Leeds bid for "beautiful" £26m target, he "has everything"