Leeds United summer transfer target Rory Mahady has officially confirmed his departure from Celtic in a social media post

The lowdown

The 16-year-old goalkeeper could possibly be about to join the Leeds youth setup now that he is a free agent.

Last month, the Daily Mail reported in its print edition of The Verdict (22 August, pg. 14, via MOT Leeds News) that Victor Orta and the Whites were in talks over a deal for the Scottish prospect, and his latest step may pave the way for a move to Elland Road.

He's not only the youngster from north of the border who has been linked with Leeds, either. According to Aberdeen Live, the Whites possess a 'cast-iron interest' in 15-year-old Aberdeen striker Lewis Pirie.

The latest

Mahady took to Instagram to reveal that he has 'officially left Celtic' after nine years in the academy.

He issued a 'massive thank you' to the 'players and staff' with whom he had worked and called his time at the Glasgow club a 'pleasure'.

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The verdict

Leeds could be implementing an intelligent recruitment strategy.

As the report from Aberdeen Live explained, it has become more difficult for Premier League clubs to snap up top talent from Europe in the wake of Brexit, so the solution is to look within the United Kingdom for the brightest youth players.

Assuming the club take this opportunity to go after the free agent, Leeds fans should be excited by the prospect of signing Mahady, given that he has won international recognition for Scotland at under-16 and under-17 level.

Furthermore, he has also been pursued by two Champions League clubs in Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, so this may be regarded as a coup for the mid-table Whites if they can fend off those two competitors to land the precocious goalkeeper.