Leeds United star, 16, attracts interest from TWO European giants as he waits to sign first professional deal

Leeds United’s young England prospect Sam Alker is attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.

The 16-year-old, a skilful, technical number ten, has become a regular at U18 level for Leeds and has also been capped by his country at youth level.

Leeds have offered the highly rated teenager professional terms but he has yet to agree to sign and doesn’t turn 17 until March.

European clubs have been alerted to his potential availability with scouts from Bundesliga sides Dortmund and Leverkusen paying particular attention to his potential.

Alker, an England U17 international, would be free to join foreign clubs though would not be able to officially sign in Germany or other countries abroad until he turns 18 in 2027.

Bundesliga clubs have a regular presence in the UK monitoring academies and offer quicker pathways to first team football.

A move to Germany would see the youngster follow in the footsteps of the Bellingham brothers

Leeds signed up young striker Harry Gray to his first professional contract earlier this week.

The 17-year-old is following in the footsteps of numerous family members in playing for Leeds, after his grandfather Frank, great uncle Eddie, dad Andy and big brother Archie, now of Spurs.

It’s understood he has agreed a deal until 2028.

Meanwhile, Daniel Farke is waiting on a number of fitness checks ahead of Friday’s crunch Premier League game with West Ham.

The Leeds squad has been hit by illness with Ethan Ampadu and vice-captain Pascal Struijk notably struggling while Noah Okafor and Wilfried Gnonto are yet to return to full first team training ahead. Okafor has an adductor injury while Gnonto is recovering from hernia surgery.