By Pranav Shahaney

19th May, 2022 | 9:18pm

Leeds United, Rangers and Celtic keen on Cardiff City youngster Japhet Matondo - report

Leeds United, Rangers and Celtic are reportedly keen on Cardiff City youngster Japhet Matondo in the summer.

According to Wales Online, the trio are keen on signing the highly-rated 16-year-old, who is yet to decide on his future.

The Welshman, who plays as a left winger, will wait to see what contract he’s offered by Cardiff – who desperately want to keep him at the club.

Quality player

Of the three clubs mentioned, there’s just one club in the Champions League next season and that’s Celtic.

Leeds are unlikely to qualify any time soon and may even get relegated to the second division at the end of May.

Rangers are on a slump after winning the league last season and no player would prefer moving there this summer over a move to their rivals Celtic.

Whichever club ends up going will massively benefit from his acquisition as he’s extremely talented for his age and could be first-team ready in a few years.

Matondo may not have played a single minute of professional football but he certainly would be an important asset in the academy and he could graduate to senior football in less than a year.

So far he has played for Cardiff’s under-23s side and Wales Under-17s, recently netting for the latter against Scotland.

Luring him away from his boyhood club will be a task but it remains to be seen whether or not he’s on the move this summer.

In other Leeds United news, Derby County’s Malcolm Ebiowei is piquing the interest of the Whites.