Brighton youngster attracts League One loan interest

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 6 Jun 2022 09:38 BST
• 3 min read

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Brighton’s highly-rated youth star Marc Leonard is being looked at by a number of League One clubs, FootballTransfers understands.

The Scottish youngster is being watched by Fleetwood Town, Cambridge United, and Charlton Athletic, all of whom wish to take the midfielder on loan next season.

The player’s current contract with the Seagulls ends at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, having been handed a new one in December last year for his superb displays in Premier League 2.

Leonard, who has represented his national side at youth level, said about his extension to Sussex Live: “You have highs and lows in whatever you do, but it’s been a really positive experience and I am delighted to be extending my stay.”

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Indeed, the 20-year-old made a huge impression in the under-23s last season, scoring four goals and providing three assists in 22 league matches.

Development of a champion

Meanwhile, the side’s former under-18 coach, Mark Beard, said he was impressed with how the player has developed over the years: "We signed him from Hearts and he was predominantly a number 10 but he had a lot more to give than that,” he told SussexLive.

"In his first year, and he would be the first to admit this, it was a bit up and down, it was a rough ride. He was really disappointed when he didn't play but he always worked hard to get into the team.

"And in the second year, he just went up another level. At times he was unplayable and certainly one of the best players in the squad.

"He has got great vision but he was not at his best when he did not have the ball. He wouldn't get to the ball early enough, he wouldn't hold his shape, so that is probably why he didn't start much in the first year.

"By the time he got that we turned him into an all-round midfielder. He could defend, he got stuck in, won tackles, and then when he got the ball he had that great ability to see passes nobody else did.”