According to The Scottish Sun, Leeds United target Kerr Smith is available in the market. It appears Dundee United are ready to cash in on the youngster, in the remaining week of the transfer window. The Whites, though, are set to face stiff competition from Celtic and three other English clubs, with Southampton reportedly leading the chase.
Kerr Smith: A Star In The Making?
Kerr Smith has made a lot of waves in Scottish football over the past few months due to his performances in the youth setup and the few competitive matches he has played for Dundee United.
A centre-back by trade, Smith is officially a member of the Dundee United reserve at the moment. However, he made his professional debut for the club last season, featuring as a substitute in the 4-1 defeat to Rangers. He ended the campaign with four more appearances in the league.
The 16-year-old’s impressive performances and sheer talent had made him one of the most sought after prospects in Scotland. He is also expected to gain a more prominent role in the first team for this season, having already featured in the two League Cup matches so far.
However, Smith’s future now lies elsewhere with Dundee United ready to cash in on their prized asset this summer. His current contract at the club expires in 2023, but the youngster might not cost a fortune for interested parties involved.
A Good Option For Leeds United?
Leeds United haven’t particularly had a busy transfer window, as far as their first-team is concerned. They do not lack depth at centre-back either, with Marcelo Bielsa having the privilege of choosing from at least four options in Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk, Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente.
However, it’s a completely different story as far as their reserve team is concerned. They have already brought in talented assets like Amari Miller, Lewis Bate and Sean McGurk this summer, but may have a problem in central defence.
While captain Charlie Cresswell has done exceptionally, the departure of Oliver Casey to Blackpool has created a void in the defensive unit. That is where someone like Kerr Smith could be useful.
The 16-year-old should be a direct replacement for Casey for Leeds’ reserve team that has done extremely well in recent years, thanks to the major investment from the board. And given the fragile nature of the club’s defensive unit, Smith may soon get an opportunity to prove himself at the highest level.
