Steve Evans confirms trying to sign Leo Da Silva Lopes; was he at Leeds United?

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It seems most likely that Steve Evans went after Leo Da Silva Lopes while he was in charge at Leeds United.

Steve Evans has told Peterborough United’s official Youtube channel that he attempted to sign Leonardo Da Silva Lopes, and it seems most likely that he targeted the midfielder while Leeds United boss.

Da Silva Lopes has been playing first-team football at Peterborough since the age of 16, and during Evans’ time at Leeds was when the youngster started to develop a reputation.

Da Silva Lopes played eight times for Posh back in the 2015/16 campaign, when Evans was in charge at Elland Road.

And the Scottish boss, who has just taken the job at Peterborough, said in his first interview: “There’s some fantastic young players in there. I tried to sign Leo, that didn’t get out. I’ve tried to sign Maddison many times, that did get out. I said to him, he’s a genius!”

Evans did not specify which club he was at when he tried to sign Da Silva Lopes, but it seems highly unlikely that it was while he was in charge at Mansfield Town.

By the time Evans was at Mansfield, Da Silva Lopes had established himself in Posh’s first-team and he would have been far too expensive for the Stags to buy.

Evans also confirmed that he wanted Marcus Maddison when he was at Leeds, which was widely reported.

In truth, Leeds may feel justified that they didn’t go after Da Silva Lopes now, as his career has stalled.

Although the youngster has still played regularly for Posh, his progress has slowed this season, and he has been left on the substitutes’ bench frequently of late.