13 November 2023 , 22:52
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Manchester City are set to land Leeds youngster Finley Gorman for a British record fee.
The 15-year-old has come through the ranks at Elland Road but a deal looks to have been struck between the Treble winners and the Championship outfit. Leeds stand to receive a record fee for a player of Gorman's age, which is testament to his rapid rise.
No deal is complete, according to the Athletic, but the expectation is that the teenager will move to the Etihad. The young attacking midfielder made his England under-16s debut earlier this season when he was only 14. He also holds the record of being the youngest player to score twice in a Premier League under-18 fixture, at 14 years and 326 days.
Gorman is still on schoolboy terms with Leeds and won’t be able to sign a first professional contract until he turns 17 in September 2025. City have continued to invest in their academy and recently signed the highly rated duo Harrison Parker, 16 and Luca Fletcher, 16 from Manchester United and Reading respectively in deals reportedly totalling close to £1million.
The Leeds academy continues to produce talent and one of the current first-team stars, Archie Gray, has also been linked with a move away. The teenager has become a regular for the Whites, who are mounting a promotion charge after their relegation. Gray has been among the big winners following the arrival of Daniel Farke with the versatile midfielder playing regularly.
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Liverpool are among those keen on Gray, as are Everton and Crystal Palace. Leeds, if they were to cash in, are looking to secure at least £40m for a player who has come through their academy and is the great nephew of club icon Eddie Gray.