Wayne Rooney says he has been watching £5m Leeds United man ‘closely’ after Tuesday development

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Despite being on punditry duty for Euro 2024, Wayne Rooney has been casting a keen eye on one Leeds United player recently.

Rooney has enjoyed a busy few weeks of television work ahead of getting started in his new job as manager of Plymouth Argyle, his first since being sacked by Birmingham City in January.

Incidentally, Rooney’s last match in charge of the Blues was against Leeds where he was beaten 3-0 at Elland Road, bringing an end to a miserable spell of just under three months.

Just like Rooney, Leeds themselves have had a very busy last few days, with the end of the financial year on June 30 having kicked their transfer window into gear.

On top of both Jack Harrison and Marc Roca leaving for a second time, Archie Gray’s £40 million move to Tottenham was also announced earlier today, with Joe Rodon returning in the opposite direction.

• READ MORE: Joe Rodon’s brother drops three-word hint that £2.5m player could soon follow him to Leeds United

Rooney shares what he’s heard about Darko Gyabi

Those three aforementioned exits are likely to be the first of many at Leeds this summer. Liam Cooper, Jamie Shackleton and Cody Drameh could all soon follow with their contract offers still unsigned.

But Gray was not actually the only exit of Tuesday for Leeds, with Darko Gyabi having also put the finishing touches on a season-long-loan move to Plymouth.

This will be the second time Gyabi has moved on loan to the Green Army having spent two months there last season until an injury forced him to return to Leeds early.

Gyabi, of course, will be going back to Argyle under a new manager following the appointment of Rooney earlier this summer, who replaced Ian Foster after his departure in April.

Rooney discussed the arrival of Gyabi in an interview with pafc.co.uk, claiming the £5m man has exactly the type of attributes he looks for in a midfielder.

He said: “I heard really good reports about Darko from his time with Argyle last season and since watching him closely I was really keen to bring him back to the club.

“He fits the profile of midfielder I like to have within the squad, as he is good on the ball, powerful and athletic, and will fit the style of play I am looking to implement. It is a really exciting time with the squad due back for pre-season this week – I am delighted that Darko will be a part of that.”

• READ MORE: PSG now want to sign £30m Leeds United player this summer after Whites had been open to sale

Plymouth loan is Gyabi’s final chance to stake Leeds claim

Gray’s move to Tottenham could well have opened the door for Gyabi to get a chance at Leeds.

However, the fact he has not even been given the chance to show what he can do is pretty telling as to how far down he is in Daniel Farke‘s plans.

This loan at Plymouth, which should allow him the chance to play regular football at Championship level, is effectively his last chance to show he has what it takes to make it at Leeds.

When he comes back this time next year, he will have just 12 months left remaining on his deal at Elland Road. A decision will then be needed on whether to hand him a new deal, or sell him.