Should Leeds make a move for Barnsley ace Marley Watkins?
SkySports report Barnsley winger Marley Watkins has handed in a transfer request, becoming the latest player looking to leave Oakwell.
Sam Winnall has already departed for Sheffield Wednesday, with Conor Hourihane and James Bree set for Aston Villa.
Watkins has been impressive for the Tykes this season, playing a key role in their win over Leeds United at the weekend.
Barnsley’s Marley Watkins celebrates scoring his sides first goal
The winger created three chances and provided one assist in the 3-2 win, giving stand-in left-back Gaetano Berardi a tough time.
Leeds should have seen enough from that encounter to have them on red alert after news of Watkins’ transfer request.
The Whites only have two specialist wingers, Stuart Dallas and Hadi Sacko. The latter has been out with injury over the past fortnight and his absence has been evident.
| Passing Accuracy | Won Tackle | Total Att Assist | Crossing Accuracy | Won Contest | Ontarget Scoring Att | Goal Assist | Goals | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marley Watkins | 75% | 15 | 34 | 33% | 32 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
Watkins is a proven Championship player, who has directly contributed to 13 of Barnsley’s goals so far this season, including setting up their second at the weekend. He has scored six, a figure which at Leeds, only Chris Wood has topped.
Marley Watkins of Barnsley
Ipswich Town and Bristol City are both claimed by SkySports to be keen on Watkins, but unlike the two clubs, Leeds could offer Watkins a shot at the play-offs and potentially promotion.
Leeds CEO Ben Mansford quit Barnsley last summer to take up a similar role at Elland Road, and will know all about the player he helped sign 18 months ago.
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