Leeds United close to bolstering attacking options with capture of former Celtic trialist

Preparations for next season have already commenced at Elland Road...

After an abject Championship campaign, one that will conclude on Sunday as they play host to Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United have seemingly already begun their preparations for the new season.

For Sky Sports have claimed today that United have opened discussions with Danske Bank Premier outfit Crusaders with a view to signing Northern Irish winger Gavin Whyte.

However, it should be noted that the Belfast club have not yet accepted a formal offer from Leeds for the 22-year-old, who finished the 2017-18 season as the division's joint-highest goalscorer, alongside Cliftonville's Joe Gormley, with 22 goals - a stellar contribution that proved instrumental in helping Crues to a third league title in four years.

It is little wonder that the interest of several Football League and Scottish Premiership clubs has been piqued by the stupendous displays of Whyte, an erstwhile Celtic and Everton trialist who has recently been crowned Ulster's footballer of the year.

Should Whyte move to Elland Road, he would link up with another former Crusaders player in Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas, who represented the club between 2010 and 2012 and scored 24 goals in 67 domestic appearances in his two years at Seaview.

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