Leeds United youngster Oliver Casey is reportedly in talks to join Blackpool this summer, allowing him regular football away from Elland Road.
The Lowdown: Casey impresses in academy
The 20-year-old has been a key performer in the Whites’ academy in recent years, making a total of 23 appearances for the Under-23s.
The 6 foot 2 centre-back has also appeared three times for Leeds’ first team, with his first game coming in the Championship in 2019/20.
There is no denying that minutes are going to be hard to come by for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, however, given the centre-back depth at the manager’s disposal.
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The Latest: Blackpool linked with move for youngster
According to Football Insider, Blackpool want to sign Casey, having secured promotion to the Championship.
They see the youngster as a promising talent who would represent a good option in the second tier, and the Whites are happy for him to leave on a permanent deal.
A Thorp Arch source has allegedly told the outlet that negotiations are now underway to see the young talent leave the club for good this summer.
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The Verdict: Right time to leave
While it is also nice to see young players make the grade at Leeds, for Casey’s sake, a move away makes far more sense at this stage in his career.
In Diego Llorente, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk, Bielsa already has four strong centre-back options to call upon, meaning the Englishman could stagnate if he stays put.
Casey could find his level in the Championship, proving to be a key man for Blackpool and going on to enjoy a strong career – perhaps the Whites can even insert a buy-back clause in case his development in the second tier is really impressive.
In other news, Leeds could be pipped to the signing of one player this summer – find out who it is here.