Leeds United reportedly wanted to sign Oliver McBurnie from Swansea City in the summer transfer window.
Former Leeds striker Whelan has said that he underestimated McBurnie when he was on loan at Barnsley from Swansea during the second half of last season.
The 22-year-old striker joined Barnsley – then in the Championship – on loan from Swansea – then in the Premier League – in the January transfer window.
The Sun reported in April 2018 that McBurnie was keen on joining Leeds in the summer transfer window, with The Yorkshire Evening Post subsequently claiming in the summer that the Whites wanted to secure the services of the youngster.
McBurnie, though, signed a new contract with the Swans in July, and scored both goals in the Welsh club’s 2-2 draw with Leeds at the Liberty Stadium in the Championship in August.
Whelan told Sporting Life about McBurnie: “He has proven me wrong because I wasn’t so sure about him when I found out Leeds were after him last season. I watched him and I wasn’t sure.
“He had a bit of that laid-back kind of attitude when he was at Barnsley. He wasn’t really pushing himself, looking to do too much on the ball, but maybe that was because he wasn’t playing in this Swansea side with a bit more quality.
“Maybe he felt that he had to do a little bit more to be the difference. But this season when they played Leeds, the two goals that he scored – absolutely fantastically well-taken.
“His overall performances as a striker upfront – big, strong, holds the ball up, wins the ball in the air. He is a player that I kind of underestimated, and he could be a real, real surprise and a great player for Swansea this season.”
Stats
McBurnie scored nine goals in 16 starts in the Championship for Barnsley during the second half of last season, according to WhoScored.
So far this campaign, the striker has scored four goals in six Championship starts for Swansea, according to WhoScored.
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