Exciting Leeds United youngster on verge of loan move as teen joins up with respected coach - YEP 25/8/23
Leeds United teenager Sonny Perkins is close to sealing a season-long loan move to Oxford United in League One.
By Joe Donnohue
The former West Ham youngster joined Leeds last summer,
featuring predominantly for the club’s Under-21 side during his first year at
Elland Road.
Perkins scored 13 times in 23 outings for Leeds’ youngsters
last term but is widely-regarded to have outgrown junior football at club
level.
The 19-year-old is now on the verge of a first senior loan
move with League One side Oxford United, according to The Athletic. Oxford also
hosted Leeds youngster Lewis Bate at the Kassam Stadium last season.
The YEP understands loan interest in Perkins has been
considerable this summer with several clubs pitching to Leeds and the player’s
representatives, making the case they would provide the teen ample playing time
in an environment which would compliment his natural attributes.
Perkins made an appearance off the bench during Leeds’
opening day draw with Cardiff City, but following the acquisition of Joel Piroe
and further signings planned in attacking positions, the 19-year-old is likely
to have been restricted to Under-21 appearances once again this season, if he
remained at Elland Road.
It is understood there is no option to make Perkins’ loan
move permanent and the player will return to Leeds at the end of the 2023/24
campaign.
Oxford currently sit fourth in League One having already
beaten Carlisle United, Barnsley and Derby County this season. They are managed
by 38-year-old Liam Manning, a highly-respected coach within the EFL who
previously spent time in West Ham’s youth setup before roles with City Football
Group and the head coach position at MK Dons.