---
title: "Leeds United: Charles De Ketelaere misses pre-season match as he nears Milan move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-whites-set-to-miss-out-on-charles-de-ketelaere-signing-transfer-marsch-phillips-raphinha/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-07-11T21:10:14Z"
modified: "2022-07-11T21:10:14Z"
---

# Leeds United: Charles De Ketelaere misses pre-season match as he nears Milan move

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) look set to miss out on the signing of Club Brugge sensation Charles De Ketelaere this summer as he is thought to be on the brink of a move to Milan.**

### The Lowdown: De Ketelaere wanted by Leeds

Jesse Marsch continues to eye up summer reinforcements at Elland Road ahead of his first full season, having already [acquired some impressive signatures](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399), like Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams, among others.

Another player who Leeds have been [linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-transfer-news-charles-de-ketelaere-demands/) with signing is De Ketelaere, who continues to mature into a formidable young player at Brugge, with [Phil Hay](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1540696641732284418) reporting the Whites’ interest as ‘increasingly serious’.

The 21-year-old [scored 14 goals and registered nine assists](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/386390/History/Charles-De-Ketelaere) in the Belgian First Division A last season, providing huge amounts of end product from a mostly attacking midfield role.

### The Latest: Whites ‘resigned’ to Milan move

According to Newspaper *Libero*, via [*MOT Leeds News*](https://motleedsnews.com/transfers/leeds-united-target-charles-de-ketelaere-left-out-of-club-brugge-squad-amid-negotiations/), De Ketelaere was left out of Brugge’s squad to face Copenhagen in a pre-season friendly, in order to seal a move elsewhere.

Unfortunately, that destination doesn’t appear to be Elland Road, with Leeds ‘resigned’ to the fact that he will join reigning Serie A champions Milan.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“398089″\]

### The Verdict: One that got away

This is an undoubted blow, given De Ketelaere’s obvious ability and long-term potential, but the size and prestige of Milan as a club are still too great to ignore for some players.

\[freshpress-poll id=“399042″\]

Should the youngster head to Italy instead of England, the Whites must continue to look at midfield and attacking options, as Marsch aims to build a squad capable of pulling well clear of the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) relegation zone this time around.

Cody Gakpo and Adama Traore are said to be the club’s [main alternatives](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-transfer-news-charles-de-ketelaere-alternatives-named-adama-traore/) to the Belgian, so it will be interesting to see if any news develops on that pair once Milan seal the deal.