Leeds United reportedly wanted to sign Brenford defender Barbet – but he’s suddenly joined their Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers instead.
It is almost two months since L’Equipe reported that Leeds United were keen to signing Yoann Barbet when his Brentford contract came to an end.
A talented ball-playing defender who can fill in effectively either at centre-half or left-back, the Frenchman appeared to tick a lot of boxes for Marcelo Bielsa’s side with his versatility and composure in possession marking him out as a potentially inspired signing on a free.
But while Leeds had been linked with Barbet for the best part of two months, QPR have swooped in and snapped up the 26-year-old in the blinking of an eye – signing a player who could have made a real difference on and off the pitch at Elland Road.
“Yoann is someone who knows the division well and he is a technically outstanding player,” new QPR boss Mark Warburton told the club’s official website, clearly thrilled with his new signing.
You’ve got to ask a question of Leeds here. Barbet looked like exactly the kind of signing they needed to make; reliable, adaptable and boasting plenty of Championship experience after a number of fine seasons at Griffin Park.
But Leeds’ potential loss is most certainly QPR’s gain with the Londoners getting a deal signed, sealed and delivered for a player who hadn’t even been linked with a move to Loftus Road until midday on Tuesday.
A lack of movement in the transfer market arguably cost Leeds a chance of promotion both in 2017 and 2019 – and the fans will be praying now that history does not repeat itself yet again.
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