Leeds United have brought several players through to the first-team from the academy in recent years, and the new co-owner hopes to continue that tradition.
Andrea Radrizzani has suggested that he wants Leeds United to continue bringing youth prospects through the system at Thorp Arch, and emphasised the desire to leave a legacy in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
The Whites have arguably established themselves as one of the most prolific producers of talented youngsters over recent years, who subsequently have bags of first-team experience under their belt before they begin to approach their peak years.
And while the recent arrival of the new co-owner may have left some fans concerned that the club could consider going in a different direction, Radrizzani has insisted that the academy will continue to play an important role in Leeds’ future.
“I had the opportunity to meet the director of the academy [Adam Underwood] and I want to spend more time understanding how we work and how we can improve,” he said, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“They already expressed to me a few ideas, how things can be done a little bit better. The intention is to focus more on the Yorkshire area, to find more talent and have more legacy in the region.
“But we need to be proud that every year we are seeing some of our talented being requested by big clubs and having the chance to play.”
While life has been much brighter for Leeds fans this season, it has only come after several years of disappointing and unspectacular campaigns where the club’s promotion hopes are virtually over by the time January rolls around.
Leeds United’s Charlie Taylor in action
During those years, it was the emergence of the club’s academy graduates that gave the fans something to be optimistic about. The likes of Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt and Charlie Taylor have provided those glimmers of positivity.
And while several have moved on to bigger things over the years, the current crop of youngsters around the first-team continue to play a key role in Garry Monk’s side.
Ronaldo Vieira, Kalvin Phillips and Lewie Coyle have impressed this term, while Tyler Denton also looks destined for a future in the first-team and Mallik Wilks is seemingly leading a host of starlets also hoping to make an impression in the near future, having been selected on the bench this season.
And if Radrizzani is able to oversee the continuation, and perhaps development, of the system that has seen Leeds uncover so many prospects over the years, then it will surely boost the club’s chances of their first-team becoming a force of the English game once again.
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