Marcus Antonsson has only scored six League One goals on loan at Blackburn Rovers while Championship giants Leeds United are looking at other strikers.
This was perhaps the most inevitable transfer rumour of the year so far.
Per The Sun, Leeds United were considering a loan move for Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie when Chris Wood left in the summer. Instead, Paul Heckingbottom brought the Scottish striker to Barnsley a few months later.
And, with the 40-year-old manager swapping Oakwell for Elland Road just a couple of days after McBurnie arrived at Barnsley, The Sun’s (18th March, page 60) reports that Heckingbottom could look to sign the 21-year-old again in the summer came as no surprise.
McBurnie has been brilliant at Barnsley, netting six goals in eight Championship starts and on paper would be the rugged, reliable goalscorer that Leeds have missed all season.
But if there is one man who will be hoping that McBurnie does not make that short trip across Yorkshire, it is Marcus Antonsson.
Leeds’ forgotten man is on loan at Blackburn Rovers in League One and, with Caleb Ekuban and Pawel Cibicki and co struggling for goals at Elland Road, the fans have even clamoured for the Swede to get a second chance.
But since Heckingbottom arrived in February, Antonsson has not scored or started a single game for Blackburn with Tony Mowbray’s side rising to the top of League One. If the former Kalmar forward was hoping to impress Leeds’ new boss, he is not exactly going the right way about it.
And links with McBurnie suggest that Heckingbottom has other priorities than giving Antonsson a chance to save his Leeds career.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
