Leeds United were heavily linked with a move for Gavin Whyte during the summer, but he ended up in League One.
At the start of the summer it appeared almost inevitable that Gavin Whyte would complete a move to Leeds United, with the Belfast Telegraph reporting in May that the winger was poised for an Elland Road switch after a stunning season with Crusaders.
Whyte scored 21 goals in 36 league games and was named Player and Young Player of the Year at the Northern Ireland football awards at the end of the campaign.
But for whatever reason, the 22-year-old would not join the Championship side and instead headed to Oxford United. But just two months into his spell with the League One side, it would appear that Leeds may have possibly made a mistake not signing the youngster.
Whyte has made an excellent start to life at the Kassam Stadium, scoring three goals in just six games for Karl Robinson’s men, including two goals in as many games in the League Cup.
His form saw him called into the same Northern Ireland squad that included Leeds pair Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Dallas for this international break, and he made an immediate impact on his debut.
Whyte scored during Michael O’Neill’s side’s victory over Israel on Tuesday, less than two minutes after coming onto the pitch. The goal takes his tally to four in seven games for club and country this term.
The early signs suggest that Leeds did not appear to get too much wrong during the summer. Marcelo Bielsa’s men are at the top of the Championship and playing some of the best football in the country right now.
But perhaps having Whyte in the ranks would have left Leeds with even more potential for the rest of the season as the early indications suggest that he is going to be an inspired signing for Oxford.
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