Former Scotland international Alan Hutton has tipped Celtic youngster Leo Hjelde to join Leeds United this summer, seeing it as a great opportunity for him.
The Lowdown: Hjelde linked with Leeds move
The Whites may be well-stocked at centre-back currently, but that hasn't stopped them from being linked with an exciting move in that area of the pitch.
It has been claimed that Leeds are in advanced talks over the signing of Hjelde from Celtic, with the 17-year-old even compared to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk.
[freshpress-quiz id=“359346"]
The Latest: Hutton excited by rumour
Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton was hugely positive about a move coming to fruition, admitting it could be ideal for both Hjelde and Leeds:
"The next Virgil van Dijk? Wow.
"That’s a great opportunity. You go out on loan to improve as a player, he’s obviously done that. Whether he’s going to break through at Celtic, we don’t know at this precise moment in time.
"The opportunity to go down to such a big club and play under a manager who is a great guy, very exciting, very attack-minded, does everything right, it’s a massive lure.
"You’ll be part of the youth team but there is a pathway to break through into the first team.
"It would definitely excite me if I was a young guy, the opportunity to go to Leeds. I’m sure that’s one that could possibly happen."
[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-11/" title="Latest Leeds United news!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align=“none"]
The Verdict: Superb young prospect
Hjelde looks like a special young talent with a massive future in the game, so the idea of Leeds snapping him up is clearly an exciting one.
To be compared to a player of Van Dijk's calibre - arguably one of the best centre-backs of the last decade - speaks volumes about his potential ceiling in the game.
If Leeds do get their man, Marcelo Bielsa will be able to ease him in gently and let him play for the Under-23s, especially with Diego Llorente, Liam Cooper, Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk all representing more experienced options at the back for now.
In other news, a journalist has raved about one Leeds target - find out who it is here.