Harrogate Town boss responds to transfer links with Leeds United youngster Max Dean

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver has claimed that no approach for Max Dean has been made amid reports that they want to take the youngster on loan. The 18-year-old is entering the final year of his Leeds United contract and is yet to have stepped up to the first team.

A loan move to a club in the EFL for the upcoming season is likely to be something the Whites are looking to explore. League Two side Harrogate would make plenty of sense for a number of reasons and the rumours may still come to fruition but Weaver revealed that no approach has been made.

"We are aware of Max Dean, he plays for a big club nearby and is a real talent, so we ought to be aware of him," he told the Harrogate Advertiser. “We've been looking at him. We want to add someone in the forward area and he's one of quite a few we have looked at.

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"But we haven't picked up the phone or made an approach to Leeds. There's nothing concrete in this, but I can't discount it. He's a player who I'm sure is going to go on and have a very good career.

"Leeds have got a lot of really talented young players, so it would be nice to be able to build a relationship with them if we can. It's a fact that they are a club with a great track-record for producing and bringing through top quality footballers."

If Dean was to secure a move to an EFL side, it would provide him with his first experience of senior football. Those in charge of the youth teams at Thorp Arch will be keen to see how the young forward performs at the next level after impressing in the development squad.

He has scored nine goals in 27 Premier League 2 appearances over the last two seasons and, if he can adapt to the demands of