Big teams with world-wide scouting networks and Academy set-ups of world reknown are famed as breeding grounds of excellent youngsters.
Inevitably, not everyone can succeed and many fall by the wayside, dropping down the divisions in order to gain some footballing experience. This is what happened to former Manchester City starlet Reece Wabara.
Signed by Manchester City from the Wallsall youth set-up at the start of July 2007, the then 15-year-old became a part of the highly-regarded youth team at the Etihad. However, it wasn’t to work out and the youngster left City mid-April 2014 after almost seven years where he made only one senior performance.
The level of Wabara’s consistent displays over Wigan’s promotion season this campaign has seem him rewarded with a place in the League One Team of the Year. However, the 24-year-old only joined Wigan with a short-term deal in place in mid-January after the expiration of his contract at Barnsley and he will be out of contract at the end of June.
One team said to be interested in procuring the services of the one-time starlet are Bristol City with the Bristol Post saying in a recent article that the Robins have “sent scouts to watch the former Manchester City player on a number of occasions this season and have been impressed by his performances.”
The story takes another twist with the following Tweet yesterday by Sun journalist Tom Barclay who says that Leeds United are also interested in bolstering their options in defence ahead of the forthcoming season.
Told Reece Wabara is in talks with #BristolCity. He's out of contract at Wigan, although could still sign new deal. Leeds also interested
— Tom Barclay (@TomBarclay_) May 18, 2016
Should Leeds take up the option to bring soon-to-be out-of-contract Wabara on board at Elland Road, it can only add to the strength in depth at right-back and the defensive options that Leeds have. Currently the first choice right-back is crowd favourite Gaetano Berardi with back-up being provided by highly-rated youngster Lewie Coyle.
With that in mind, it makes sense that Leeds United might be looking at options to shore up what was a creaky back line at times last season.
