NafisaManchester United will have been left wondering how they managed to let another Premier League victory slip away on Sunday.
Michael Carrick’s side looked to have done enough to leave the new Hill Dickinson Stadium with all three points after Benjamin Šeško restored their lead in the 88th minute.
But just when United appeared to have survived Everton’s late pressure, Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced an outrageous 96th-minute equaliser on his debut to snatch a 2-2 draw for David Moyes’ side.
It was another reminder of the fine margins involved in building a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level.
For United, the immediate frustration will centre on a game they led twice. For Leeds United, meanwhile, the weekend has provided another reason to look beyond the present and towards what the club are building at Thorp Arch.
Because while the first-team landscape is always going to dominate the headlines, Leeds are also quietly making moves designed to strengthen the club for years to come.
And one of those moves has now involved raiding one of their Premier League rivals.
Leeds United have reportedly agreed a deal to sign highly-rated Manchester United youngster Silva Mexes.
The 16-year-old attacker is set to join the Whites on a two-year scholarship deal, with the youngster expected to link up with the Under-18s initially.
The move is particularly interesting because Mexes had been part of Manchester United’s academy since arriving from Ipswich Town in 2024. He has also represented Thailand at Under-17 level and featured at the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup.
Leeds’ move for him is therefore less about an immediate first-team solution and much more about identifying a player who could potentially become valuable to the club in the years ahead.
The fact that Mexes had not yet signed a professional contract at Manchester United has allowed Leeds to complete the scholarship move outside the usual senior transfer-window restrictions. Reports indicate that he will initially be developed with the Under-18s, with the possibility of progressing through the academy setup as he gets older.
That is precisely the kind of recruitment Leeds need if they want their recent Premier League return to become something sustainable.
Leeds United are thinking beyond the present
The Whites have already shown this summer that they are prepared to invest heavily when they believe a player can improve Farke’s first-team squad.
James Trafford and Tarik Muharemovic were major investments, while the club also strengthened in several other areas.
But spending money on established players cannot be the only route to long-term growth.
Leeds need to continue producing their own talent, and the academy gives the 49ers another avenue to build a stronger squad without having to spend huge transfer fees every time they need to improve the first team.
Mexes fits neatly into that strategy.
At just 16, there is obviously no guarantee that he will eventually become a Premier League player. Young prospects can develop at dramatically different rates, and plenty of highly-rated academy players never make the transition into senior football.
But Leeds will believe they have identified enough potential to make the gamble worthwhile.
The teenager is primarily a left winger and has already gained international experience with Thailand’s Under-17s. He is also the son of former Wales international Robert Earnshaw, adding another interesting layer to his footballing background.
Mexes begins a fresh chapter at Leeds
For Mexes, the move represents an opportunity to start another important stage of his development away from Manchester United.
There is unlikely to be any immediate pressure for him to force his way into Farke’s senior squad. Instead, the priority will be regular youth football, continued physical development and adapting to Leeds’ demands.
The club will want to create an environment where he can make mistakes, learn from them and gradually move towards higher levels of competition.
Reports have previously suggested that Leeds were keen to secure the youngster because of the potential they see in him, with the club planning to utilise him across their youth sides as he develops.
And that makes the timing of the move particularly intriguing.
Manchester United’s dramatic collapse against Everton on Sunday was another reminder that even the biggest clubs cannot simply rely on their present squad forever.
At Leeds, the message is increasingly about preparing for what comes next.
Mexes is not being signed to solve a first-team problem today.
He is being brought in because Leeds believe he could potentially help solve one several years from now.
If the Whites can nurture his talent properly, the two-year scholarship could eventually prove to be a very small investment for a player who becomes a significant part of their future.
For now, though, the teenager’s journey starts with the Under-18s and a fresh chapter at Elland Road.
And Leeds will hope this is just the beginning.
Nafisa
