This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Leeds United have made a few transfer mistakes over the past few years, but none may be as big as this one.
Indeed, the Yorkshire club have made blunders by signing an injured Izzy Brown, allowing Charlie Taylor to leave on a free and spending over £1m on Laurens de Bock.
However, their biggest transfer mistake may have been surrounding a deal that didn’t get done rather than one that did.
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Back in February, Leeds were linked with a move for a little-known Brazilian striker going by the name of Gabriel Martinelli.
For some reason or another, their interest wasn’t followed up and the South American ended up at the Emirates rather than Elland Road.
However, his form this season is proving exactly why United should have gone all out to sign him, going from someone no one had heard of, to somebody lighting up English football.
Anyone who’s watched a single Leeds United game this season would be able to tell you that the Whites’ main problem is putting the ball in the net. Patrick Bamford is goalless in nine matches, after all.
Therefore, perhaps they could have done with a man who has scored seven goals in seven appearances this term, a player who is blessed with raw speed and technical ability.
Martinelli is proving that Leeds should have focused their efforts into signing him with his performances for Arsenal this term, settling into life on British shores excellently.
Why being the away goalkeeper at Leeds is the toughest job in football in the video below…
It’s not as if the teenager is scoring against poor teams either. He’s netted two against Nottingham Forest – a team that Leeds drew 1-1 with earlier this season, two against Liverpool and he’s bagged a couple of goals against Europa League opposition.
The attacker is now valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, but perhaps Leeds should have considered forking out the cash for him back when they first showed an interest.
It could well have been them reaping the rewards, rather than Arsenal.
