Leeds United have sold Paudie O’Connor.
One year ago, Paudie O’Connor appeared to be one of Leeds United’s biggest prospects.
Now he is sold, yesterday clinching a move to Bradford City.
It is a quick fall from grace for the 21-year-old who made his debut under Paul Heckingbottom amid an injury crisis and appeared to seize his opportunity.
New manager Marcelo Bielsa clearly did not share the same enthusiasm about O’Connor.
To a degree, Bielsa’s judgement should be trusted, but comments from Pontus Jansson last year seemed to indicate Leeds had a talent on their hands.
Jansson compared O’Connor to himself, telling Leeds Live: “He is good, he has confidence, looked like me when I was young, want to take risks with the ball which is good, but also is clever, strong, fast, so he can be a good defender.”
O’Connor shone in his brief appearances at Leeds, and also showed promise on his loan spells at Blackpool and Bradford.
If anything it appears Leeds have sold him too early, without giving him enough time to fight for a place and prove himself.
At 21, O’Connor needs to play and develop, and Leeds could have done him a favour by selling him, but there is a risk the club have dropped a clanger by letting the young Irishman leave so suddenly.
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