Manchester United and Leeds close to agreeing rare loan deal

Only one player has ever been loaned between the senior squads of both clubs.

Manchester United and Leeds United have been bitter rivals for decades. The clubs may be separated by a league [or leagues in recent years] but trips to Old Trafford or Elland Road, and the chants you are likely to hear, will tell you they are never far from each other's thoughts. Between 12 years - 1992 and 2004 - Leeds sold three top stars to their Manchester foes. They received £37.3m from the Red Devils but Leeds were forced to say goodbye to Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith. In return, over the same period of time, Leeds signed Lee Sharpe and Danny Pugh after they travelled up the M62 for ventures new. The 20-time league champions have definitely had the better of it. Only one player has been loaned between the clubs in recent years, with Ireland midfielder Liam Miller playing 28 times and scoring once in the 2005/06 season. And so a rare loan deal between the clubs is close to agreement. According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is poised to join Leeds on a season-long loan after undergoing a medical on Friday night. The left back, who was given his United debut by Louis van Gaal, is set to become Leeds' 10th first-team signing of a busy summer under new coach Thomas Christiansen’s defence. The Dane told the Post:

"I’ve seen him a few times. He’s a very good player and homegrown which is very important."

Borthwick-Jackson will provide competition for Gaetano Berardi. Leeds sold Charlie Taylor to Burnley earlier this summer. This is the second time Jose Mourinho has allowed the 20-year-old to leave Old Trafford for a season-long loan to a Championship side. He was at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2016/17 but only featured seven times.