Chelsea star Cole Palmer has given a ringing endorsement on Leeds United’s newest reported transfer target.
The Whites will be looking to hit the ground running in this summer’s transfer window as they know all to well the repercussions a slow start can have.
Following relegation last season, Leeds did not make a single signing until the third week of July as 49ers Enterprises worked to complete their takeover, and the appointment of Daniel Farke first.
Having been consigned to another season of Championship football with a play-off final defeat to Southampton on Sunday, Leeds know they will have to sell key players before they buy.
However, there is no excuse for Leeds not to have made a number of signings by the time pre-season rolls around, if they have genuine ambitions of going one better and getting promoted.
What Palmer said about new Leeds target Alfie Gilchrist this season
Chairman Paraag Marathe has come out and said all the right things this week after such a disappointing afternoon at Wembley last weekend.
He has insisted money will be there to spend for Farke, while also suggesting the lucrative sponsorship deal with Red Bull will give them even more leeway in the market.
Clearly he is determined to ensure Leeds build a squad capable of another promotion push and one player who has already been linked this week is Chelsea’s Alfie Gilchrist.
Along with Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers, Leeds are reportedly keen to sign the 20-year-old on a season-long-loan after a breakthrough year at Chelsea.
He made 11 Premier League appearances for the Blues this season and even managed to score his first goal in the 6-0 thrashing of Everton back in April.
For a boyhood Chelsea fan, that was certainly a big moment for Gilchrist with star man Palmer telling the club’s official website after the game, it was just reward for how hard he works every single day.
He said: “Everyone was buzzing for him. Obviously, he has been at Chelsea for his whole life. He has trained with us and put 100 per cent in every day.”
Jamie Redknapp sung praises of Leeds target Gilchrist
That was not the only game in which Gilchrist received plenty of praise, with Jamie Redknapp having been left blown away by his performance against Tottenham at the beginning of last month.
He played 85 minutes at right-back, locking up both Heung-Min Son and Brennan Johnson at different parts of the game, prompting Redknapp to label him as an ‘excellent’ talent.
He said: “Excellent. I thought he was fantastic. Not easy playing against Son and then he got Brennan Johnson, he got taken off. I thought he was excellent, it just shows you have to give young players an opportunity. Just give them a chance sometimes, that’s all they need.”