By Danny Wright

17th Jul, 2022 | 1:09pm

Leeds United set to sign Sonny Perkins with medical tests 'completed' - Fabrizio Romano

Leeds United are on the verge of signing Sonny Perkins after the young striker left West Ham United earlier this month, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Guardian journalist reported on Twitter on Sunday (17 July) that the 18-year-old attacker has signed a contract with Leeds and also completed his medical.

It is understood that it’s a “done deal” and “will be announced very soon”.

One for the future

Perkins is a versatile player but he’s predominantly a centre-forward.

Last season, he played 20 times in Premier League 2 for West Ham and all of those appearances, which yielded 10 goals, came in the striker position [transfermarkt].

Perkins also scored four goals in four Under-18 Premier League fixtures for the Hammers and was handed his senior debut by David Moyes, who played him three times across the Premier League and Europa League.

Unfortunately for the London-born wonderkid, Pekins’ time at West Ham came to a bitter end.

On 1 July, the East London club published an official statement which included an accusation of an approach being made to the youngster while he was still under contract.

Perkins’ representatives were slammed by the Premier League club, adding: “West Ham United take this matter very seriously – we believe the rules and structures in place at the Football Association and Premier League should be upheld at all times.”

It remains to be seen what comes of that strongly worded statement but the impact that agents have on young, up-and-coming players in the world of football is something that needs to be closely monitored by the powers that be.

West Ham feel as though they’ve been hard done by.

And now they’re seeing Perkins head to Elland Road for a compensation fee – that must be hard to take.

In other Leeds United news, Joe Gelhardt has been backed to have a big future at Elland Road.