Are Leeds United right to stay clear as Marley Watkins looks set to leave Norwich?

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Leeds United were beaten by Norwich City last year as Marley Watkins left Championship Barnsley on a free transfer.

This time last year, barely a day went by without Leeds United being linked with Marley Watkins.

The winger had shone at Yorkshire rivals Barnsley during the 2016/17 season, scoring 10 goals and assisting seven more, and looked set to follow Connor Hourihane, Sam Winnall and James Bree in earning a big move on the back of his excellent form at Oakwell.

According to The Mail, Leeds had been tracking Watkins for a number of months in the knowledge that his contract at Barnsley was about to expire.

So it was seen as a major blow when the former Swansea City youngster signed for league rivals Norwich City on a free instead.

But it speaks volumes that, 12 months on, Leeds are nowhere to be seen with The Mirror (April 20^th, page 57) claiming that Watkins is on his way out of Carrow Road already. It is understood that former Barnsley manager Lee Johnsone is keen to reunite with the 27-year-old at Bristol City.

Though despite the ongoing uncertainty over Pablo Hernandez’s future and the dramatic dip in form suffered by fellow creative talents Samu Saiz and Ezgjan Alioski, it would have made little sense for Leeds to renew their interest.

Watkins has been one of the season’s biggest flops, contributing just one assist and no goals in his 24 Championship appearances for Norwich – only half of which have been starts.

Watkins last year would have been an excellent signing on a free, but paying a fee for him on the back of an awful 2017/18 season would have been another questionable transfer.