COMMENT
One of the most important parts of a promotion push for any Championship side is having a squad with many different options to cover every trouble involved in a grueling campaign.
This is where Leeds United became eventually unstuck last season under Marcelo Bielsa, who had to rely on options from the under-23 squad throughout the season. Although players such as Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton made the step up convincingly, Leeds eventually missed out in the play-offs.
Leeds are preparing to move into the Premier League loan market in their second attempt at promotion under the Argentine, meaning that the Whites’ will leave a majority of their permanent targets in the past.
This includes Bristol City winger Callum O’Dowda, with the Mirror reporting Leeds will not return for the Irish international after early interest in the 24-year-old.
With much better options available such as Wolves winger Helder Costa, who Football Insider reports that Leeds are preparing a loan swoop for his signature – a move for O’Dowda would make no sense.
O’Dowda failed to make much of an impact at Bristol City and was too inconsistent as Lee Johnson’s side missed out on the play-offs. In his 31 Championship appearances, the winger only managed four goals and five assists.
Leeds need a much more proven Championship winger who can consistently deliver the goods in a potential promotion push, with Helder Costa the preferred option at Elland Road.
Of course, Dan James would have been the top target but that ship has sailed – it is good that the O’Dowda links have left port too.