Three years after Leeds United let Tom Lees go to Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Derby County, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield all want him.
Most Leeds United fans were far from impressed when the news broke in the summer of 2014 that homegrown prospect Tom Lees would be leaving Elland Road.
Their chagrin was understandable given that Lees moved to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer despite having two years remaining on his contract. Furthermore, at the age of just 23, the towering defender had plenty of time on his side to fulfil the potential that encouraged Simon Grayson to give him his senior Leeds bow three years earlier.
Former Leeds manager Simon Grayson is a big fan of Tom Lees
The six-time former England under-21 international, now valued at £5 million, is also on the radar of Premier League duo Burnley and Huddersfield Town, as well as promotion-seeking Championship trio Derby County, Middlesbrough and Hull City.
And Lees making a big-money move from Wednesday, who have been defeated in the play-offs in each of the last two seasons, would only ramp up the feeling that Leeds made a mistake not giving the talented defender more time to hone his game.
Leeds lost Lees
Lees played 123 league games in Leeds’ first-team between 2011 and 2014 so their decision to simply give him away for nothing does not look all that intelligent with the benefit of hindsight.
Especially when you consider that he has developed into one of the Championship’s most consistent defenders at Hillsborough.
Tom Lees has grown into a reliable defender since leaving Leeds
And while the departure of last season’s loanee Kyle Bartley leaving Pontus Jansson and the unconvincing Liam Cooper as Leeds’ only senior centre-backs, Whites manager Thomas Christiansen could be forgiven for wishing the club had kept hold of their former academy star.
Because, three years after letting him go for nothing, he could move to the Premier League for £5 million this summer.
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