Leeds United have some great young players and if they gain promotion this season Newcastle United can forget about signing two of their best.
According to a report in the Chronicle, Newcastle United are scouting Leeds United duo Ronaldo Vieira and Charlie Taylor.
That is no surprise given the players’ emergence and undeniable talent, but Leeds will be desperate to keep hold of both as they mount their own promotion push.
Taylor may be out of contract at the end of the season but it is worth the risk of losing him on a free transfer if he helps Leeds back to the top flight, while Vieira’s deal runs until 2019 so there is no short-term concern there.
If Leeds want to destroy any hope of Newcastle signing either player, they need to follow them into the Premier League come May.
While the Magpies are already being hailed by many as champions-elect, Leeds are up in the play-off places and enjoying a huge upturn in form under manager Garry Monk.
Newcastle may be interested in Vieira and Taylor – as will many other clubs in both the top flight and the Championship – but Leeds still have the power to keep them.
Their own promotion would see Vieira star on the biggest stage with no need to move on, while it could also be enough to convince Taylor to sign a new deal.
He will have seen what happened to Sam Byram and Lewis Cook when they left Elland Road and will not want a repeat.
So yes, Newcastle may want the pair, but Leeds can enjoy a superb campaign of their own, with not one but two sleeping giants returning to the Premier League in time for the next campaign.
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