Why Ben Chrisene could be a good long-term prospect for Leeds United

According to claims from @scoutsattending, as relayed by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United have been credited with an interest in teenage sensation Ben Chrisene, who currently plies his trade with Exeter City in the League Two.

The 15-year-old midfielder has been watched by Premier League sides Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa, while Bavarian giants Bayern Munich are also on his list of admirers (h/t Yorkshire Evening Post).

As per the report, Leeds United have now joined the pursuit of the teenager and the Whites had scouts in attendance to keep an eye on him during England U16’s Sportchain Cup encounter with Russia.

Image result for ben chrisene" — Ben Chrisene has burst on to the scene at Exeter City this season (Getty Images)

Chrisene rose through the youth ranks of the Grecians before being promoted to the senior ranks at the tender age of 15 prior to the start of the ongoing campaign.

The starlet made his senior professional bow for Exeter City as a late substitute in a 4-1 EFL Cup defeat to Coventry City, beating Ethan Ampadu’s previous record to become the youngest ever professional for the Grecians at the age of 15 years, 7 months and 1 day.

Chrisene has also featured in Exeter City’s EFL trophy campaign this term, playing cameos off the bench against West Ham U23s, Cheltenham and Newport County. He was also named on the bench for the FA Cup first-round tie against Cambridge United.

The 15-year-old has only played a meagre 27 minutes of first-team football at Exeter City so far but his talent and potential have been there for all to see.

That he is rubbing shoulders with the big boys in senior men’s football is indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years.

To put things into perspective, Ben Chrisene is still in the rudiments of his formative years as a professional footballer but Leeds United have every reason to line him up as one for the future.

Having burst on to the scene as a bright emerging prospect from the Exeter City academy, the teenager has been making waves in the lower divisions with his rapid progress.

Leeds could be at risk of being blown away by the Premier League giants in the race to sign the 15-year-old prodigy but the West Yorkshire giants have always been right up there when it comes to promoting up and coming players from their youth system.

Looking at things from the player’s perspective, it would be ideal to choose a club that would possibly offer him a quicker route to first-team football. And that is one of the key reasons why a move to Elland Road would be in the best interests of his development.

Under the stewardship of Marcelo Bielsa and Head of Football Victor Orta, the Whites have repeatedly grabbed the headlines with their youth recruitment. To that end, Ben Chrisene would be yet another fantastic addition to the existing pool of burgeoning young talents at the club.

Former academy graduate Jack Clarke earned a move to Tottenham back in the summer, following an impressive breakthrough campaign in the Championship last season.

The rise of fellow homegrown talents like Leif Davis, Jamie Shackleton and Ryan Edmondson is a clear testament to the kind of progress the club have made at the grassroots.

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Verdict

To that end, Leeds United beating off competition for League Two starlet Ben Chrisene would definitely be a step in the right direction under Bielsa.