Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah was sent out on a season-long loan to Leeds United in the summer, but they weren’t the only Championship club keen on his services, with Bristol City also wanting to snap him up.
In September, Bristol City manager Lee Johnson admitted that he was keen to bring Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah to the club, as the striker opted to make a switch to Championship rivals Leeds United instead.
Robins manager Johnson would have no doubt have been disappointed to lose out on such a talented player, but it seems as though he may have a second bite at the cherry when the transfer window re-opens in January.
The Sun have claimed that Bristol City are interested in Nketiah again as they are hopeful that his parent club Arsenal call him back from his season-long loan spell at Leeds, and then send him out on-loan elsewhere.
The above report shouldn’t surprise Leeds because Johnson did state last month that their previous loanee Tammy Abraham, and Nketiah himself, are the only two players they have signed/tried to sign knowing that they wouldn’t be able to get them on a permanent basis.
He told the Monday Night Club (23/09/19): “I always try to sign players now where’s there is the potential on bringing them in on a permanent. the only one that hasn’t happened with is Tammy Abraham and we had a hot pursuit on Eddie Nketiah and that didn’t quite work out for us. Those are the two who we felt we wouldn’t be able to get on a permanent.”
It just goes to show how keen Johnson is on the player, and the fact that they are willing to go against what they normally do, it further suggests that they may just do everything in their power to try and get him.
Whilst Nketiah has four goals to his game since moving to Elland Road, he is yet to start a Championship game for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Given Johnson’s previous comments on Nketiah, the recent report that Bristol City are keen to make a move for him again, and his lack of game time at Leeds, it could get some fans twitchy in these coming months.
It has to be mentioned that Nketiah is an Arsenal player and the power lies with them, and at the end of the day, it is all about the development of their player.
Whilst Bielsa is a better coach than Johnson, and Elland Road is a bigger stage to play on for Nketiah, if he isn’t getting the starts or game time his parent club want him to get then their Championship rivals might just end up becoming more and more interested.
Johnson has previous of taking young talent to the next level, as Tammy Abraham is a prime example, but Leeds will be hoping that Nketiah’s goals and their performances in these coming weeks will shut up any hopes that Bristol City and Johnson may have.
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