Why Leeds United shouldn’t hesitate to loan out Robbie Gotts
According to the Northern Echo, League One promotion-hopefuls Sunderland have opened talks with Leeds United over a potential loan deal for highly-rated midfielder Robbie Gotts.
Third-tier rivals Swindon Town and Hull City have also been credited with an interest in the 20-year-old while Championship outfit Huddersfield Town are also in the race to sign the Whites graduate before the domestic deadline on October 16. (h/t Northern Echo)
However, as per the report, Leeds are expected to consider destinations where Gotts would enjoy regular game time, thus making a loan move to a League One club more likely.
Profile
Born in Harrogate, Robbie Gotts rose through the youth ranks of Leeds United and was a part of the club’s U-23 side that won the 2018-19 Professional Development League title under Carlos Corberan.
Having featured in Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team matchday squads on several occasions, Gotts finally made his senior professional debut for the Whites in a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in the FA Cup back in January 2020. Gotts also featured once in the Championship last season as Leeds United secured promotion to the Premier League as the outright winners of the second-tier.
The 20-year-old was named Leeds’ Academy Player of the Year for 2019-20 and also played a part in the club’s penalty-shootout exit against Hull City in the EFL Cup last month.
Loan move – ideal for all parties?
Robbie Gotts has caught the eye with his rapid progress at the youth and reserve levels but with Leeds United now in the Premier League, the midfielder’s chances of playing regular first-team football look very slim.
The Whites do not have much depth beyond regular starter Mateusz Klich in the No.8 role. However, with Jamie Shackleton and Adam Forshaw ahead of Gotts in the pecking order and Stuart Dallas also capable of playing in that position, the youngster is unlikely to get a serious look in from Bielsa this season.
The 20-year-old’s talent and potential certainly can’t be called into question but he’s still too young raw and inexperienced to make a real impact in the top-flight. Gotts needs more exposure in the lower divisions before evolving into a player capable of rubbing shoulders with the very best in the business. A loan move away from Elland Road should make a transition to Leeds’ first-team a lot smoother.
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Verdict
Leeds United have already loaned out several of their highly-rated academy talents, including the likes of Mateusz Bigusz, Kun Temenuzhkov, Alfie McCalmont, Jordan Stevens and Ryan Edmondson, allowing them to continue their development elsewhere.
To that end, a temporary departure for Robbie Gotts would represent a continuation of the same policy. It would certainly make more sense for the 20-year-old to have a taste of senior football in League One rather than spending time with Leeds’ reserve side.
