According to a report from the Leicester Mercury, Premier League outfit Leicester City are considering the possibility of signing former Leeds United midfielder Billy Whitehouse.
The 22-year-old, who plies his trade currently at Northern Premier League outfit Tadcaster Albion, started out at Doncaster Rovers.
After a brief loan spell at Halifax Town, he was snapped up by Leeds United in the summer of 2016 on a one-year deal and was made part of their development squad. He made only one senior team appearance for the Whites, before being released at the end of the campaign.
Whitehouse signed for Alfreton Town at the beginning of last season but left only a month later to join Shaw Lane AFC, where he lasted a couple of months. He then secured a move to Tadcaster Albion in November 2017. The winger settled down well at the club and has become an integral part of the team.
The winger has started the new season on a strong note, bagging five goals and chalking up ten assists in just 18 matches. And his performances haven’t gone unnoticed with Leicester eyeing a move, along with Championship side Reading. (h/t Reading Chronicle)
Mostly deployed as a right winger with the Brewers, Whitehouse can play on either flank and has been used in the No.10 role in his career as well. He can also slot in a more withdrawn role in the middle of the park. A versatile operator, the 22-year-old shows plenty of promise but it is noteworthy that he failed to make a mark at Doncaster and Leeds.
However, he seems to have gotten things back on track at Tadcaster albeit at a lower level in the English football pyramid. And the attitude that he has shown to come back from a rather tumultuous couple of seasons also goes on to highlight the winger’s mental strength. This spell in the non-league has helped him develop as a player.
Leicester City are well-stocked in the wide areas with summer signings Rachid Ghezzal, James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira all being deployed on the wings by manager Claude Puel. Meanwhile, Demarai Gray and Marc Albrighton are available as well.
However, Whitehouse has been exceptional for Tadcaster this term. Moving to the Premier League will be a huge step up but there is a good chance he can make the cut if he keeps his head down and applies himself the same way he has done in the past few months.
Perhaps a spell with the Leicester reserves could work before being integrated into the first team. Hence, Billy Whitehouse could prove to be a shrewd purchase for the Foxes.
