Leeds United have made a bit of a mess integrating some of their most talented youngsters in recent years.
Not long ago, Leeds had one of the best U21s sides in the country, yet only really Crysencio Summerville has been handed enough of a consistent opportunity to make the step-up.
The likes of Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Cresswell are both still at Elland Road, but have played just a handful of minutes this season. Lewis Bate, Cody Drameh, Leo Hjelde and Sam Greenwood are among the others from that team who will not make it at Leeds.
Leeds have made poor use of the loan market for a number of those players, either selecting the wrong club like for Bate, or just keeping hold of them for too long without actually giving them a chance.
Hopefully Leeds do not repeat that kind of mistake with Mateo Joseph, who for some reason is still awaiting his full league debut for the club, despite showing time and time again what he can do.
Leeds could regret selling Dean on the cheap, he’s on fire now
That said, Joseph’s current game time is significantly more than others from the U21s have got in the past, who have been equally as prolific as him at that level.
Max Dean scored 16 goals in 38 appearances for Leeds’ U21s over the course of three seasons between 2020 and 2023, before then being sold by Jesse Marsch in January last year to MK Dons.
Leeds do have a sell-on clause for Dean should he depart MK in the future, but ultimately he was a player sold on the cheap before he even got a chance.
And that could be something Leeds live to regret as the 20-year-old has been on fire this season, and in particular as of late since recovering from an injury.
In 20 league starts this season, Dean has 14 goals and three assists. Five of those goals have come in the last four matches, as he looks to fire MK Dons back to League One.
How much is Leeds’ sell-on clause for Dean?
As mentioned, it would appear the only financial benefit Leeds gained from selling Dean was the inclusion of a sell-on clause.
Dean has already been attracting plenty of interest as a result of his performances at the Dons, with an offer of around £1 million even coming in January.
The exact figures surrounding the sell-on clause are not clear, though it is said to be ‘significant’, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
If he continues this form, there is no doubt he will win himself a big move somewhere.