Leeds United could have swooped in and pipped Wigan Athletic to the forward’s signature.
In a recent interview with the Grimsby Telegraph, Mariners director John Fenty revealed that Leeds United had the chance to make a late swoop for Omar Bogle, only for the Whites to opt out and the player to head to their Championship rivals Wigan Athletic as previously planned.
At first glance, the decision not to make a move that would have pipped the Latics to the Grimsby Town striker seems foolish, especially when you consider the 24-year-old has scored 21 goals in 32 matches this season. But could there be a bigger picture?
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Could Leeds already be thinking like the Premier League club they are hoping to become?
Because as good as Bogle is, all but two of his goals have come in League Two or lower, and if Leeds earn promotion back to the top flight in May they will be targeting the type of player who can keep them there for the long term.
Of course Bogle could continue to score for fun and ultimately make it to the Premier League himself. However his signing was a risk for a club that did not need him as long as Chris Wood kept scoring.
Instead Leeds manager Garry Monk continues to negotiate canny loan deals that enable him to test what works and what doesn’t.
See also: Has exciting Leeds youngster prompted Monk to rethink teammate’s future?
Only time will tell if Leeds’ decision to turn their back on Bogle was the right one. But assuming they do return to the top table of English football next season, they will be seeking a player with top flight experience to fire them even further.
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