Daniel James was set to play a key part in Leeds’ Championship run-in, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The report claims that while James might have been a player who would develop in the Premier League in the future, Marcelo Bielsa was intent on buying him to aid their bid for promotion.
His transfer fell through in dramatic fashion as Swansea refused to sign off on the deal, with the 11pm deadline passing.
Writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Phil Hay said, “Leeds could revisit the transfer in the summer but James, for all his future potential, was a player Bielsa intended to unleash during the Championship run-in.”
Hay also said, “Bielsa plans to play Hernandez on the left against Norwich tomorrow night but the option of a revved-up James on that flank would have freed his veteran playmaker to occupy the pocket.”
James will make an appearance at Elland Road, but for the opposition in a game that will take on extra significance now on February 13.
OPINION
James has only just broken through into the Swansea side but it sounds like Bielsa had big plans for him in the second-half of the season. It would have seen Hernandez moving back into the middle, with Jack Clarke, Daniel James and Jack Harrison vying for the two places on the wings. The good thing for Leeds is that they’re due to get Izzy Brown back and Tyler Roberts has also stepped up recently. They’ve got enough players in attack but there’s no doubt that James would have fitted into a team that’s slowly being kitted out with some really exciting young talent. It’s a big blow for the player as well as the club, but Leeds will now put the matter to one side and focus on winning promotion to the Premier League – starting with the huge Championship clash against Norwich, their closest rivals, on Saturday evening. That should be a belter.