Leeds United have been linked with a move for Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie – one year after they wanted to sign another Swans ace.
With Leeds’ season fizzling out at an alarming rate, Paul Heckingbottom has understandably switched one eye to his potential summer plans as he looks to enjoy the kind of productive window that will enable him to build a side potentially capable of challenging for promotion next season.
Unsurprisingly, his plans have seemingly begun with a look at former club Barnsley. The Tykes may be struggling this term, but there are a number of decent players on their books who will surely attract interest in the summer.
One of those is Oli McBurnie, according to The Sun (18th March 2018; page 60), who has made a stunning start to his loan spell with the club – scoring six goals in nine Championship appearances and earning his first cap for Scotland during this international break.
That form hints that he would be a brilliant signing for a Leeds side that may need to replace their top goalscorer at the end of the season for a second campaign in a row, with Pierre-Michel Lasogga only at Elland Road on loan.
But perhaps McBurnie’s form hints that history may be about to repeat itself for Leeds one year after they earmarked a Swansea-owned player shining on loan in the Championship as a potential summer target.
Kyle Bartley was excellent during his loan spell at Elland Road during Garry Monk’s year in charge. It is perhaps fair to say that his influence has only been fully appreciated this season, now that he is not around and Pontus Jansson’s and Luke Ayling’s form has dipped and the Whites’ defensive record has been significantly worse.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported ahead of the summer that Leeds wanted to sign Bartley on a permanent basis. Had they attempted to buy the centre-back permanently when he initially arrived on loan, it seems highly possible that the Swans would have been willing to discuss a potential deal.
However, after his brilliant year at Leeds, they not only kept hold of the defender but handed him a new contract. And Heckingbottom must be fearful that if McBurnie continues to impress, he is also likely to find himself in the Swans’ first-team plans next year.
McBurnie’s tally at Barnsley equals that achieved by Swansea’s top goalscorer Jordan Ayew this term, while Tammy Abraham is the only other player to have scored more than three league goals. At this stage, it appears that letting McBurnie go this summer would be a very questionable move.
It may not be down to Swansea however. Transfermarkt shows that the forward is out of contract this summer, but if they can make it clear to the 21-year-old that he could be an important player beyond this summer, the chance to play regularly in the top flight will surely be tempting for the striker, and Leeds may be left disappointed once again.
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