Lincoln City loan star Davide Somma will be playing in England next season — but for parent club Leeds United, the League One club have announced.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson has exercised a clause in Somma’s contract which has extended his contract at Elland Road for a further year. The decision ends Lincoln’s faint hopes of signing the former San Jose Earthquakes striker on a permanent contract.

It also seems unlikely that Somma will return to Sincil Bank in a loan deal next season. The South African striker has scored eight goals in 12 appearances for the Imps, and is sure to attract interest from higher divisions if Leeds decide to loan him out again.

Speaking to Leeds United’s official website, Grayson said: “The main reason behind him (Somma) going out on loan was to play games in a competitive environment. We’ve seen his qualities in training and in the reserves, but he needed a loan move like this and his record down there speaks for itself. Dave will come back here with plenty of confidence, more experience, he knows his future here is secure with another year, and we look forward to working with him again.”

Somma has put in a string of classy performances for the Imps over the past few months, and his departure will be a blow to manager Chris Sutton who has praised Somma’s influence on his side.