Leeds United making enquiries for ‘powerhouse’ England winger

Leeds United and Crystal Palace have made checks on England Under-21 winger Noni Madueke, according to a report.

The PSV Eindhoven winger made his debut for Aidy Boothroyd’s side on Sunday night. Madueke lasted 72 minutes before being replaced by Curtis Jones as the young Three Lions were beaten 2-0 by Portugal. Madueke was one of England’s more enterprising players in what was a poor team performance. He has been impressing for PSV with nine goals and eight assists in 27 games in all competitions and he has attracted interest from across Europe.

According to the Evening Standard, Crystal Palace and Leeds, along with Bayern Munich “have already been putting feelers out” for the attacker.

Leeds will be looking to add to their squad in the summer and London-born Madueke is on their radar.

Madueke moved from Tottenham aged just 16 and left north London for PSV. He moved to Holland with his mother after making his Spurs U18 debut aged just 15. He also made his professional debut at 17.

“He’s fitted in really well,” said England U21 coach Boothroyd. “He’s a powerhouse of a player, technically very good, left-footed and likes to come in off the side of the pitch, off the right and go and link.

“Noni has got a goal in him. He’s very creative. He’s got a massive smile, a lovely kid. The lads have taken to him, as they would because he’s a good player, he has that respect for what he’s done at PSV.”

 

Aidy Boothroyd: Defeat hurts a lot

Aidy Boothroyd: Defeat hurts a lot

England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd was deeply disappointed by his side's 2-0 defeat to Portugal which left their Euro U21 Championship hopes hanging by thread.

 

Madueke also has nobody better to learn from at PSV than Ruud van Nistelrooy, who works in the Dutch club’s academy.

“In terms of my attacking work and goalscoring, there’s no better mentor to have,” said Madueke. “He’s helped me a lot with my goalscoring and my all-round play. He’s very important to me. I speak to him a lot to this day.

“First of all he’s simplified the game for me in terms of giving me options when I have the ball. He’s made the game easy for me to play. In terms of my goalscoring, getting into the box, scoring off one-touch and scruffy goals. Not always a worldie goal. That’s what I’ve learnt from him.”

Douglas to depart Elland Road

Barry.Douglas.2021.TEAMtalk1

Meanwhile, Barry Douglas will reportedly leave Leeds United for nothing in the summer as the club has no plans to offer him a new deal.

Douglas, 31, joined Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan in October last year. At the time, Whites chief Marcelo Bielsa admitted it had been tough call. “They’re decisions I have to make,” he said. “For me, they have been very difficult. Douglas deserved to try and fight at Leeds. He gave his all to achieve this.

Douglas has enjoyed 25 outings for Rovers this term, with the north-west outfit sitting 15th in the Championship standings. They have no chance of making the play-offs and are relatively safe from the relegation zone.

It is not known if Ewood Park boss Tony Mowbray wants to keep Douglas beyond the terms of his deal. Football Insider are reporting that Bielsa will not be offering the man with one Scotland cap a fresh deal at Elland Road.

He has made 44 appearances in all competitions for the Yorkshire outfit but it seems as though he will not add to that tally. Douglas spent one season at Wolves but was sold to Leeds after the West Midlanders gained promotion to the top flight.

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