Leeds United backed off signing striker.
Leeds United backed off a reported agreement to sign Jerry Mbakogu after Marcelo Bielsa was appointed as manager.
Gianluca Di Marzio had claimed last March that Leeds had a ‘general agreement’ with Carpi over a £3.5 million deal.
A knee injury suffered by Mbakogu and lack of interest saw his contract terminated in the summer and he stayed as a free agent until January.
That was in itself, validation for Leeds that they were correct.
But after he signed with Serie B side Padova and scored two goals on his debut in January, perhaps there was a slight hint that Leeds should have struck an Izzy Brown-like deal and waited on him, or even snapped him up on a free?
Currently the Nigerian is not doing anything to back that up.
His two goal blitz on his Padova debut looks like a flash in the pan.
Mbakogu has started six games since, and has no goals or assists to show for it.
Leeds would have wanted Mbakogu for this crucial stage of the run in. Perhaps he would have become an Elland Road hero, but there’s no credible argument to realistically suggest the club should have snapped him up.
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