Leeds United had been closing in on a deal for Joel Ekstrand before they changed their mind, ultimately ending up with Pontus Jansson.
This week has seen Leeds United handed another reminder of the bullet they dodged in the summer when Garry Monk was recruiting his defensive options.
Pontus Jansson once again enhanced his cult-hero status amongst Whites supporters by scoring the winning goal in the dying moments of their weekend clash with Blackburn Rovers, and celebrated by signing a three-year deal at Leeds (via club’s official website)
His overall performance embodied what has endeared him to supporters since his arrival on loan in the summer. The Sweden international was a colossus defensively and his header for the winner was met with such power that even if he had been heading a brick, it would surely have still found its way into the back of the net.
Pontus Jansson
But it could have possibly been a completely different story for Leeds had they decided to put their doubts to the back of their minds when dealing with a centre-back target who was seemingly on their radar before Jansson.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported in the summer that Joel Ekstrand had been expected to move to Elland Road, only for the club’s hierarchy to change their minds and reject the chance to sign the former Watford man.
The concern that ultimately saw the deal fall through was Ekstrand’s injury record, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, and just over a month later, Jansson was signed (via BBC Sport).
Joel Ekstrand
And even if the latter had not become one of the most popular players in Leeds’ recent history, it is fair to say that Ekstrand’s fortunes since nearly joining the Whites have emphatically vindicated the club’s decision.
The 27-year-old joined Leeds’ Championship rivals Bristol City, but this week had his contract terminated (via Sky Sports) having only made two appearances for the Robins and has since joined Rotherham United, who are already 12 points adrift of safety in the second tier.
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And the Leeds hierarchy may be looking at the decision to stay away from Ekstrand as one of the smartest pieces of business they did all summer – not that they probably realised at the time quite how good a move it would turn out to be.
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