Leeds United and Crystal Palace are reportedly among the clubs closely monitoring 16-year-old Scottish whizkid Kerr Smith this summer.
According to Daily Record, Kerr Smith is on the radar of Premier League duo Leeds United and Crystal Palace after making a breakthrough in professional football. The Dundee United youngster is currently regarded as one of the biggest young talents in Scotland and is tipped to achieve great things in the near future.
A native of Montrose, Smith, has been performing brilliantly in the youth competitions in Scotland. He was eventually rewarded with his competitive debut when the 16-year-old appeared as a substitute in the game against Rangers. It was followed by four more appearances in the final phase of the league.
The defender has already hit the ground in the new season, featuring in the two League Cup matches. Although he is still a part of the Dundee United reserve side, the youngster is likely to be promoted to the senior side during the 2021/22 campaign.
However, Leeds United intend to bring him to Elland Road as part of their constant efforts to add more talents to the reserve side. The Whites have already brought in Chelsea whizkid Lewis Bates while the likes of Sean McGurk and Amari Miller had also joined the ranks earlier in the summer.
The further addition of Smith could serve as a major boost for Mark Jackson’s team. The Scot, in fact, should serve as a direct replacement for Oliver Casey, who joined Blackpool in a search for regular game-time. Smith could thus see himself featuring alongside Under-23 captain Charlie Cresswell next season, should he make the move to Elland Road.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace are hoping to secure his services in an attempt to improve their ranks in the youth department. The Eagles have already spent big in the defensive unit, bringing in Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen this summer.
The addition of Kerr Smith should be a fascinating one, as the 16-year-old can prove to be an asset for the reserve side. However, it is fair to point out that a breakthrough in the Premier League may have to wait, with both sides boasting a strong defensive unit that should block Smith’s route to the first team.
On that note, a prolonged stay at Dundee United would perhaps be a wiser move from the player’s perspective. It will give him some much-needed experience in top-flight football before he makes the next step in his career.
