Leeds United are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Gent defender Archie Brown.
Leeds, along with Premier League clubs Everton and Burnley, are all said to be keeping tabs on Brown, who is enjoying an impressive season both domestically and in Europe for Gent.
That said, according to the Daily Mail, Brown would not be able to sign until the summer due to FIFA rules that stipulate a player cannot play for three clubs in the same season.
Brown made three appearances for Lausanne earlier in the campaign before moving to Gent in the summer, but it would appear he is a player with talent, and even in the eyes of Wayne Rooney.
Brown worked under Rooney during their brief time together at Derby County, with the 21-year-old claiming in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad that the former Manchester United man was prepared to hand him senior debut.
Rooney a fan of Leeds target Brown
Brown also added that Rooney saw big ‘potential’ in him while he was just a teenager and only the prospect of guaranteed first team football at Lausanne prompted his exit from Derby.
“Wayne Rooney, yes. He was very good for me. He gave me good advice, saw potential in me. He wanted to give me a chance. If I had stayed, it would have become a make-or-break season. But Lausanne offered me the opportunity to play in a first team, in first division then.”
Leeds are in the market for a left-back next month with Daniel Farke all but confirming as such in a press conference earlier this week due to Sam Byram and Junior Firpo’s injuries.
However, it would seem that Brown is more of a longer term target for Leeds given that he would not be allowed to join in January under FIFA’s regulations.
Given that he has only played half a season in Belgium, that is probably a blessing in disguise anyway. Should he keep developing as he is, a move could then be more realistic in the summer.
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