Swansea City’s McBurnie is currently starring at the Leeds United manager’s old club Barnsley.
Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom told a press conference on Thursday that people already know he thinks Oli McBurnie is a good player, after fresh reports linking him with a move for Barnsley’s on-loan Swansea City striker.
The Sun claimed this week that McBurnie is set to snub a new contract at Swansea, and fancies a move to Leeds – his hometown team – as he enters the final year of his existing deal this summer.
McBurnie – who despite his Yorkshire upbringing is a lifelong Glasgow Rangers supporter – has twice signed for Heckingbottom, although he has yet to play for the 40-year-old.
Late paperwork scuppered the 21-year-old’s summer move to Barnsley, while Heckingbottom left for Leeds shortly after he landed his man in January.
Asked if McBurnie – who has scored eight goals in 13 games for the Tykes – is a player he likes and whether he wants to sign him, the Leeds boss replied via the Whites’ official Facebook page: “That’s a different matter.
“But him himself, yeah, I thought I had him done on deadline day the first time in August. I was really disappointed when that got messed up. That obviously was hard because we’ve seen his value then since. He’s done what I expected him to do.
“I’d be lying if I sat here and said I didn’t like the player because I worked for months to try and get that one done, thought I’d got it, and then obviously managed to get it over the line in January. People know I think he’s a good player and he’s gone on to prove that.”
Heckingbottom faces his former club for the first time at Elland Road on Saturday and is naturally wary of the Scotland Under-21 international.
He added: “He’s dangerous because he scores goals. He’s a clever player, he can get in good areas that can hurt you as well. But his main attribute is he can score goals – either foot and with his head.”
Is Barnsley’s on loan Swansea City striker bound for Leeds this summer?
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