Leeds United reportedly wanted Yoann Barbet before Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers snapped up the ex-Brentford defender.
With 48 minutes on the clock, Yoann Barbet conceded the softest of penalties to gift Huddersfield Town a one goal lead at Loftus Road.
The Queens Park Rangers defender clumsily knocked Elias Kachunga to the ground and, moments later, Karlan Grant fired a perfectly-placed spot kick into the corner.
So it is testament to just how brilliant Barbet was throughout the other 90 or so minutes in West London that QPR fans were so willing to overlook his fleeting moment of madness. Two games into his Rangers career, the former Brentford defender is already a bona fide fan favourite after making a huge impact at the heart of a previously porous back line.
On this evidence, Barbet could be one of the most astute, value for money signings anywhere in the Championship this summer – as long as he keeps the penalty concessions to a minimum.
There was no shortage of interest when it became clear that the ball-playing Frenchman was on his way out of Brentford this summer with L’Equipe claiming that Leeds United were interested too.
Comfortable on the ball and versatile enough to play at centre-half and left-back, it is easy to see how he would have fit into Marcelo Bielsa’s plans, particularly after the departure of cult hero and star centre-back Pontus Jansson. Despite signing Ben White from Brighton, The Whites still look worryingly short at the back with 44 games to go.
For now, however, it looks like Leeds’ loss is QPR’s gain.
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