Will Barnsley’s Sam Winnall haunt Leeds United this weekend?
Barnsley’s Sam Winnall after the match
Sam Winnall will line up for Barnsley this weekend for the first time against the team which tried to buy him earlier this year.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that back in January, Leeds made a six-figure offer for Winnall, who was playing in League One with the Tykes at the time.
Manager at the time Lee Johnson, now of Bristol City, said that Leeds £300,000 offer was not acceptable, with the YEP reporting Barnsley were holding out for £1 million.
This was a valuation Leeds were unwilling to make, and Winnall stayed put.
Barnsley’s Sam Winnall celebrates after winning the Sky Bet Football League One Play-Off Final
This worked out to Barnsley’s benefit, with Winnall playing a vital role in helping the club win promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.
He netted 24 goals in all in 2015/16, scoring 21 in League One, one in the League Cup, and two in the play-offs.
In the Championship he has found it more tough going, scoring just two goals in seven matches.
But one of those came this week, scoring a crucial late equaliser away to Aston Villa to clinch his side a 1-1 draw.
Barnsley’s Sam Winnall celebrates after scoring their second goal while Walsall’s Neil Etheridge looks dejected
Barnsley have had a solid start to the season with five wins from 10 games, and sit in 10th place, three points ahead of Leeds United.
They will have been unsettled by the sacking of manager Tommy Wright, but they have not had much time to dwell on it heading into the fixture.
Winnall may be determined to show he really was worth the £1 million fee Leeds declined to pay, and that will make him a dangerous opponent for the Whites’ backline to try and deal with.
Barnsley’s Sam Winnall scores against Aston Villa
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