Leeds United are reportedly closing in on the signing of Manchester City talent Darko Gyabi.
Late last week, reports were doing the rounds claiming the Whites had got a deal over the line for the 18-year-old.
On Friday, The Athletic claimed that Gyabi ‘could be heading to Elland Road in a £5million deal’.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph published a report which seemed more definitive about the player’s move.
They claimed Gyabi ‘is moving to Leeds in a £5million transfer’.
And Leeds Live reported that Whites director Victor Orta has long been interested in the Citizens gem.
City had apparently knocked back multiple enquiries from Leeds about Gyabi’s availability.
The outlet also stated that Leeds don’t consider the player Phillips’ direct replacement.
But ‘while his age would suggest Premier League 2 football, he’s more likely to link up with Jesse Marsch’s first team.’
Also last week. Harry Brooks – who previously coached Gyabi – took to Twitter to congratulate Leeds on landing the player.
“Probably the most well-rounded midfield player I’ve ever worked with”
The professional coach and co-founder of CREATE Talent agency described Gyabi as a “wonderful talent” who’s got what it takes to become the “ideal number 8”.
And today, the Yorkshire Evening Post published an interview with Brooks. He went into more detail about Gyabi’s talent and style of play.
“He has the natural ability, he has the mindset of being very confident but also humble with it,” Brooks told The YEP.
“So he has what the best players need – they’re very assured of themselves, but they don’t have to prove themselves.
“It’s in their demeanour, it’s how they behave, it’s how they walk, how they talk.
“It’s not cocky, but they know ‘I’m a player’ and then, when you have that mindset, and they have this ability, this profile to match, it ticks so many boxes.
“As a number eight, probably the most well-rounded midfield player I’ve ever worked with, because he is incredibly athletic.
“He has that long stride to gallop away from people, very strong and can hold the ball up, he’s got an engine, he’s got quick feet, good foot patterns, but he also has silk to his game.
“He has beautiful technique, he can brush his passes, he can ping passes, shift the ball off both feet.
“And he’s got really good creative instincts as well. He can receive the ball and, all of a sudden, do a turn away from someone that no-one saw coming and then reverse a pass somewhere.
“There’s not really a set-up or a team and a style that he couldn’t play for.”