Former Leeds academy talent Lewis Cook is captaining England in the under-20 World Cup final.
Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook in action with Valencia’s Alvaro Medran
12 months ago Leeds United talent Lewis Cook was pictured modelling the club’s kit for the 2016/17 season.
A month later he was gone, sold to Bournemouth in a move which was both sadly predictable yet shocking too for supporters of the Whites.
Of all the talents to break through at Leeds over the years, Cook is the best, and after an injury hit season at Bournemouth, he is now proving it.
Leeds United’s Lewis Cook scores from long range
Cook has captained England’s history making under-20 side to the final of the tournament, where they face Venezuela this weekend.
The midfield ace is the first player to captain England at the final of a tournament since Sir Bobby Moore in 1966.
That’s quite an honour regardless of the result, and puts into question the £6 million deal Leeds sold Cook for last summer.
Leeds’ Lewis Cook in action with Derby’s George Thorne
While this figure could still rise based on appearances, it is still a snip for Bournemouth, to sign a player with genuine potential to captain England’s senior side.
Anybody who saw him dominate Championship opponents at just 17-years-old would agree this is a distinct possibility.
Cook needs an injury free season to make his stamp in the Premier League next season, but he is making up for lost time with this summer’s tournament.
The Yorkshire Post reported too that Cook has no sell on clause in his contract if he leaves Bournemouth for a bigger fee in the future.
The Whites put themselves under pressure by failing to tie Cook down to a new contract, with his deal set to expire in 2017, but the situation should never have got that far.
Former owner Massimo Cellino did do some good by Leeds, reducing the club’s debts and finally finding a good manager in Garry Monk, but one of his unwanted legacies will be losing the best talent the club had produced in years, and for a snip, brought about by a farcical contract situation which has just played out in unsavoury manner with Charlie Taylor.
Wolves’ Jordan Graham in action with Leeds United’s Lewis Cook
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