According to Phil Hay, as cited by Leeds Live, Blackburn Rovers are closing in on Ian Poveda. The Championship outfit are interested in signing the Leeds United attacker on a season-long loan, hoping to emulate last season’s success of Harvey Elliott. Although no concrete news has been revealed over the potential deal, it won’t be surprising to see the loan move getting sanctioned soon, as Leeds United continue to filter their squad.
Ian Poveda’s Current Role At Leeds United
Ian Poveda was signed from Manchester City in early 2020 in the hopes of him becoming a real asset for the team in the coming years. Unfortunately, the winger has not lived up to the expectations.
Formerly of La Masia youth academy, Poveda did produce a few impressive cameos off the bench during the first half of last season. But his growth stagnated following an unfortunate injury and the ensuing fitness issues. It saw the young Englishman completely fall out of Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team plans.
With the new season already here, Poveda’s fortunes have not improved at all. He is currently playing third fiddle behind starters Jack Harrison and Raphinha and back-ups Rodrigo Moreno and Helder Costa in the senior side.
His chances of making a breakthrough in the Premier League this term, therefore, is almost non-existent. In fact, the winger had made only three appearances since the turn of the year, so it is difficult to imagine him becoming a prominent part of the first team this campaign.
Can He Prove Himself At Blackburn Rovers?
Blackburn Rovers have received a lot of praises for their success in nurturing Harvey Elliott in the Championship last season. The Liverpool prodigy enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the second division, scoring seven goals while supplying 11 more in a total of 41 league appearances.
The Rovers, therefore, have certainly built themselves a reputation for being a favourable destination for young talents across England. And fortunately for Ian Poveda, they are yet to sign a definitive replacement Elliott in the right-wing position, where they already lack depth and experience.
That is where the Leeds United attacker could prove to be an ideal addition for the club. His trickery out wide, coupled with his technical prowess, make him quite a dynamic presence and it could work out just perfectly for coach Tony Mowbray.
The Championship can give the Englishman regular game-time, thus providing a platform for him to showcase his talents in professional football. A strong showing in the first half of the campaign may even see Poveda returning to the Leeds Unite camp during the January transfer window.
