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Leeds secure loan signing of young Arsenal forward

Leeds United have made Eddie Nketiah their second signing of transfer deadline day.

Nketiah, 20, has moved to Elland Road on a season-long loan and is seen as a replacement for Kemar Roofe, who joined Anderlecht earlier this week.

Bristol City had been the most likely destination for the player with the Ashton Gate side having monitored him closely for several months.

But Leeds stole a march on the Robins late in the day and director of football Victor Orta is understood to have issued a personal plea to Arsenal which proved critical in completing the deal.

Having been a prolific goal-scorer at various youth levels, Nketiah burst onto the scene in October 2017 when he scored an impressive brace to help Arsenal defeat Norwich City 2-1 in the League Cup.

He went on to make five Premier League appearances last season, and scored his first league goal for the Gunners in a 3-1 victory away to Burnley in the final match of the campaign.

The Arsenal hierarchy hold the England under-21 international in high regard, and some commentators have drawn stylistic comparisons with Ian Wright and Jermaine Defoe.

Nketiah has an eye for goal and is possessed of blistering pace, and this signing could prove a veritable masterstroke as United attempt to challenge at the higher end of the division as they did last season.

In moving to West Yorkshire he follows in the footsteps of French goalkeeper Ilan Meslier, who joined Leeds in a season-long loan deal from Lorient earlier today.

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