£1.5m player; 19-year-old starlet: Three more Leeds players who need January loans amid McGurk reports

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Arguably Leeds United’s biggest disappointment of the summer transfer window was not making use of the loan market for their youngsters.

The Whites currently have a handful of players in their U21s side who are clearly too good for that level, and therefore seeing their development stagnate.

As per Alan Nixon, Leeds have already recognised at least one of those who need to play senior football elsewhere, with a loan move for Sean McGurk having been green lighted.

McGurk has been on fire in PL2 this season with three goals and an assist in six matches already. At the age of 20, he is still yet to have a taste of first team football anywhere.

So, amid that news on McGurk, here is a look at three more who could do with loan moves.

Darko Gyabi

Having arrived from Manchester City in 2022 for £5 million, an impressive debut campaign for the U21s had made it appear as though this season could be a breakthrough for him.

However, after the emergence of Archie Gray, and signings of Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev, he is now back in the U21s and someway off the first team.

Gyabi had late interest in his services from the likes of Fleetwood Town and Swansea City, but unfortunately for him, nothing materialised. In January, that needs to change.

Lewis Bate

After spending last season on loan at Oxford United, Bate should’ve been making the next step in his development at either a top League One side, or lower Championship club.

The £1.5 million signing from Chelsea in 2021 is clearly way too good technically for youth football, but his physicality has so far prevented him from making the next step at Leeds.

With that in mind, the decision not to loan him out sounds even more ludicrous. His contract is expiring next summer and so really, he probably only has one last chance to make it at Elland Road.

Leo Hjelde

Hjelde had a real chance to establish himself at Leeds at the beginning of the season, but two poor performances against Cardiff City and Shrewsbury Town have all but ended that, for now.

The 20-year-old has been out of the last six Championship matchday squads, but at the same time is not playing at U21s level, which is no good for anyone.

His loan spell at Rotherham United shows he clearly has talent, but he needs to go and find a place to play regularly – particularly in his long-term position of centre-back – in order to continue his development.