da poker： All Leeds TV star Joe Wainman has hailed boss Marcelo Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta after the club plucked promising teenager Lewis Bate from Chelsea.
da premier bet： The midfielder has joined Leeds United for £1.5million ahead of the new season getting underway.
Bate, 18, has penned a three-year contract having been on Chelsea’s books for a decade and captained the Blues in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final.
Premier League rivals West Ham United, Liverpool, Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion were also looking to secure the talented youngster’s services after it became clear Bate was interested in a new challenge away from Stamford Bridge, but Elland Road proved to be his preferred destination.
Bate made 26 appearances at youth level last term, winning the Premier League 2 player of the month gong for December in the process, and was also named on the bench for the first-team’s FA Cup win at Barnsley in February.
Despite the lack of previous first-team opportunities in his career, Wainman believes Bate’s arrival should be seen as a coup for Leeds.
He told Football FanCast: “This kid is rated one of the best midfielders for his age group.
“I think he won the Premier League 2 player of the month for December and I know a lot of Chelsea fans were not happy that he was moving on. That’s always a good thing because the rivalry between Leeds and Chelsea is pretty healthy.
“For us to nick one of their better youth prospects is a massive plus. I can’t wait to see how he develops under Bielsa and at the club.”