• Leeds considering offering Lewis Bate a new contract after impressive loan spell
• Ollie Pickles attracting interest from top Premier League clubs at just 16 years old

Leeds United are three days away from their return to action, with an upcoming match against Watford marking the start of the Championship promotion runin. Currently sitting at the top of the table, Daniel Farke's men have eight games remaining to maintain their position.

A number of Leeds players have been away on international duty but will soon be returning to Thorp Arch as preparations intensify for the final weeks of the campaign. In recent news surrounding Elland Road, it is reported that Leeds are considering offering Lewis Bate a fresh contract due to his impressive performances while on loan at MK Dons in League Two. The club has been thoroughly impressed with Bate since he joined them in January.

Bate's current contract is set to expire this summer and he was expected by many to leave as a free agent. However, regular playing time has caught Leeds' attention, potentially leading them towards making a surprising Uturn regarding his future at the club.

Pickles has garnered plenty of attention as part of the Leeds under18s squad, which has progressed into the semifinals of the FA Youth Cup. They are set to face Millwall on April 4th, and figures within Elland Road see Pickles as a potential star in their academy lineup, following in the footsteps of Archie Gray and Finley Gorman who is bound for Manchester City.

With his composure on the ball and ability to execute longrange passes, midfielder Pickles has been compared favorably to beloved Leeds academy graduate Kalvin Phillips. Despite being two years younger than most players at his level, he has already made fourteen appearances for the under18s this season.