‘Amazing’ player left out of club’s pre-season tour after reports Leeds United want to sign him

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Leeds United are approaching the point of the summer where Premier League loans may start becoming more readily available.

Every year it is a market in which all clubs in the Championship look to take advantage of and Leeds certainly aren’t any different.

In fact, Leeds have made use of it already this summer having signed Joe Rothwell for the season from Bournemouth. It would be a surprise if he was the last one.

Over the course of last season, Leeds brought in four players on loan from Premier League sides, though it would be fair to say their success rate was hit and miss.

Joe Rodon was undoubtedly the best of them which is why he has been signed permanently, while Jaidon Anthony, Connor Roberts and in particular Djed Spence all struggled to make an impact.

• READ MORE: Pascal Struijk says Leeds have a ‘really good’ player that needs to ‘switch on’ more at times

Chelsea make decision on Leeds target Alfie Gilchrist

Leeds have already been linked with a handful of Premier League youngsters this summer, but as is often the case, moves do not starting happening until later in the window.

Rodon, Spence and Anthony all arrived well into August this time last year, and with pre-season now in full swing, clubs are starting to make decisions.

One player who has been mentioned as a potential target for Leeds is Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist, and according to journalist Nizaar Kinsella, he is now apart of the ‘loan group’ at Cobham after being left out of the squad for their upcoming pre-season tour.

Leeds are among a host of Championship clubs to have made enquiries for Gilchrist, and if they are to progress any further with it, interest will have to be firmed up pretty quickly.

Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End were the other two Championship clubs name-checked alongside Leeds earlier in the window.

• READ MORE: Leeds United target in ‘advanced talks’ over Premier League move after clear transfer instruction

PNE and Sheffield United now most likely destination for Gilchrist

Despite Leeds’ interest, it was suggested by ‘sources’ at Chelsea that they were sceptical of sending Gilchrist on loan to Elland Road due to how difficult it could be for him to become a regular.

And those concerns may well have turned into a reality this month, as Leeds have signed Rodon and Jayden Bogle this month, both of whom will be first choice in the positions Gilchrist plays.

As such, Ben Jacobs has now reported that one of PNE or Sheffield United is where the ‘amazing‘ Gilchrist is most likely to end up.

The Blades are, of course, in the market for a new right-back following Bogle’s move to Leeds, while on paper, PNE have a considerably weaker crop of defensive options than the Whites.

Some depth in behind Rodon is likely going to be required, though a Premier League club looking to loan out a young player for game time isn’t where they will find it.