Crewe Alexandra chasing move for Leeds United starlet | OneFootball

Alex are said to be chasing the captain of Leeds United's Under-21s team.

Leeds United are prepared to allow the captain of their Under-21s side, Kris Moore, to leave the club, with League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra keen on bringing the youngster in.

That's according to journalist Alan Nixon reporting via Patreon on Easter Sunday, who has revealed that Leeds would be open to letting Moore depart Elland Road, despite his vital role in the club’s youth team.

Nixon has suggested that Crewe are hopeful of winning the race to sign Moore, with the centre-back having been unable to break into the first-team fold for the Whites this season.

Moore's contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the season.

Crewe Alexandra keen on Leeds United youngster Kris Moore

As revealed by Nixon, Leeds are prepared to allow Moore to leave Elland Road this summer, and Crewe are keen to secure his signature should he hit the free agent market.

Moore, 21, has been developing at Thorp Arch for a number of years, and signed his first professional contract with the Whites in January 2022.

However, with the direction that Leeds are moving in as a club, young talents like Moore may benefit from moving away from Elland Road in order to progress in their careers.

Daniel Farke’s side are within touching distance of becoming a Premier League outfit once again, which would surely see opportunities for youngsters become limited over the next few seasons.

The current level of the top flight has reached the stage where Championship clubs who are promoted have to significantly strengthen their squads across the board, just to give themselves hope of competing for survival.

As a result, it can be hard for managers to integrate young players into a squad, unless they are truly exceptional talents who are already capable of being a key player in the first team.

While we have seen the emergence of Archie Gray through the ranks at Leeds in recent years, for the likes of Moore, a move away could be beneficial given the heights that the club will want to hit over the next few years.

Crewe is a good destination for young players

Such is their history of producing and developing promising young players, Crewe could be an ideal destination for Moore.

The fourth tier side have a lasting reputation as one of the strongest academy set-ups in the lower league system, and they provide an excellent pathway for young players to earn first-team opportunities and ultimately progress up the pyramid.

The likes of Danny Murphy, Dean Ashton and Ashley Westwood all got their first taste of senior men’s football at Gresty Road, while in recent years, players like Nick Powell, Perry Ng, Harry Pickering and Owen Dale have all left the Cheshire outfit for clubs in higher leagues.

With that in mind, it could be an ideal move for Moore to take his first steps in the Football League. Moving to a club that will both nurture his talent, and provide him with ample opportunities to flourish in men’s football, could play a vital role in his development.

If he were to join The Alex, the 21-year-old would also be safe in the knowledge that he was at a club that wouldn’t stand in his way of a bigger move, if he progresses as hoped.