Premier League outfit Leeds United face missing out on Ilias Akhomach with Sevilla now in ‘advanced’ talks to sign the Barcelona and La Liga starlet, according to Cadena Ser.
After a series of disappointing signings – Sevilla’s pursuit of more experienced players such as Isco, Adnan Januzaj, Marcao and Thomas Delaney backfiring – it seems that the Andalusian outfit are going back to their roots.
Back to prioritising young, up-and-coming talent with substantial re-sale potential. Ilias Akhomach, a dazzling 18-year-old talent and a graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, is, in many ways, a trademark ‘Monchi signing’; Sevilla’s long-serving sporting director renowned for bringing the game’s next generation of would-be superstars to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Sevilla, Cadena Sar report, are now in ‘advanced’ talks with Ilias. His contract expires in the summer. It is believed that Barcelona currently do not plan on offering him a new one (via La Colina de Nervion).
Leeds United may miss out on ‘new Lionel Messi’
Sevilla, however, face competition from a familiar face; one-time technical director Victor Orta hoping to lure the Catalonia-born whizzkid to Elland Road instead. Leeds United, ESPN report, are hoping to make Ilias one of their first signings of the summer, regardless of which division they find themselves in come June.
The decision, then, is down to Ilias. Does he want to stay in Spain? or spread his wings and embark upon a whole new adventure?
Orta’s track record in the transfer market is mixed, to say the least. But he deserves credit for luring some of the game’s most exciting teenagers to Elland Road. From Joe Gelhardt to Sam Greenwood. Ilias, then, would be in good company.
The left-footed winger made his first-team debut for Barcelona back in 2021; Xavi handing the youngster a La Liga start against neighbours Espanyol. The signing of Brazil international Raphinha, however, appears to have closed the door on further opportunities. Raphinha, a former Leeds talisman, could therefore give his one-time employers an inadvertant boost in their pursuit of one of Spain’s most exciting talents.
Ilias has not played a single La Liga game so far in 2022/23.
“In La Masia, we already have ‘the New Messi’,” former Barca director Patrick Kluivert told Cadena Ser in 2019.
Horacio Gaggioli, Ilias’ agent, admits that Real Madrid wanted to sign him before he joined the Blaugrana.
“Madrid wanted to sign Ilias,” Gaggioli tells Cadena Sar. “There were also other European teams interested, but he chose Barca.
“He is a great player with a huge ceiling.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
