Fulham are reportedly in talks to sign Callum O’Dowda from Bristol City after Championship rivals Leeds United looked at other options instead.
So after months of speculation, Bristol City winger Callum O’Dowda could be about to sign for a Championship club wearing white. But it isn’t Leeds United.
According to Sky Sports, Fulham are in talks to sign an Ireland international who has just one year left on his contract and seems unlikely to sign a new one. The Cottagers are as yet unwilling to meet his £8 million price-tag but it seems that they are honing in on one of the league’s most underrated forwards nonetheless.
After pulling off a minor miracle by convincing Aleksandar Mitrovic to sign a new deal, and landing Wolves’ Ivan Cavaleiro on loan, the addition of O’Dowda could give Fulham boss Scott Parker a forward line capable of taking the Championship by storm next season.
And only time will tell whether Leeds have made the right decision backing off O’Dowda after tracking the winger since January.
According to The Mirror, Marcelo Bielsa’s side prioritised Helder Costa instead and, with Jack Harrison and Jake Clarke returning to Elland Road too, they have more than enough quality in wide areas.
Costa, however, is only on loan, albeit with an option to buy. Clarke will join Tottenham in 2020 while Harrison, who is also in West Yorkshire on a temporary basis, is surely out of Leeds’ reach permanently at £20 million (The Sun).
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that all three wingers could be on their way out of Elland Road this time next year. Costa, Clarke and Harrison are all potentially short-term additions with immediate promotion in mind.
O’Dowda, however, would at least have given Leeds some security beyond the next 12 months.
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