Leeds United reportedly wanted to bring Munas Dabbur to the Championship from Red Bull Salzburg.
Even the most committed football hipster would have been reduced to staring blankly into space if you brought up Munas Dabbur in the autumn of 2017.
Two years ago, the Israeli striker was just starting to make a name for himself after joining Red Bull Salzburg from Grasshopper Zurich. And after a fine start to the season, according to The Mail, Dabbur also caught the eye of Leeds United.
At the time, Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta was already established as a man capable of finding potential diamonds in places others wouldn’t even think to look and Dabbur felt like a signing with his fingerprints all over it.
But Salzburg were never going to sell their star striker with another league title in their sights and Leeds’ initial interest came to nothing.
But how has Dabbur’s career panned out since then? Well, amid a flurry of goals, two Austrian Bundesliga titles, a European semi-final and a big-money move to Spain, things haven’t gone too badly.
Dabbur has plundered 51 goals since November 2017, when Leeds were first linked, firing Salzburg to three trophies and the last four of the Europa League. Sevilla then paid £13 million to bring him to La Liga, as reported by Marca.
Though there is a sting in the tale. While Dani Alves, Ever Banega, Luis Fabiano and co established themselves as truly world-class footballers in Andalucía, the chances of Dabbur following in their footsteps look slim.
He hasn’t played a single minute in Sevilla’s first six La Liga games of the season and, according to the Salzburger Nachrichten, he’s been put up for sale already.
Who knows, if Leeds are still missing chances and squandering 1-0 goal advantages, maybe Orta could be tempted to make another move in January.
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