Released by Wigan Athletic, Wabara was a summer target for Leeds United but remains without a club.
Wabara (far right) celebrates with his Wigan teammates
The case of Reece Wabara is a curious one: Freed by Wigan Athletic last summer and a subsequent target for Leeds United, the 24-year-old remains without a club ahead of the two sides’ meeting on Tuesday.
Gary Caldwell, the Wigan Athletic boss, previously admitted via Wigan Today the decision to release Wabara was his biggest of the closed season, but felt it better that the player pursued the “different offers” he had available at the time.
Wigan boss Caldwell
One of those, it seems, was from Leeds United, with Bristol City also keen according to HITC sources. Having been signed by Leeds chief executive Ben Mansford while at Barnsley last season, the Whites’ interest was perhaps little surprise.
In late July, however, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Leeds – or more accurately, Leeds’ head coach Garry Monk – had pulled out of a deal for Wabara, along with Fleetwood’s Conor McLaughlin, believing the right-back did not possess the sufficient quality to enhance the Whites’ squad.
Leeds subsequently signed Bristol City’s Luke Ayling, while the Robins brought back Sunderland’s Adam Matthews
A former Manchester City trainee and England Under-20 international, the fact that Wabara remains without a club is a little strange, especially given his role in Wigan and Barnsley’s promotions last season.
Wabara jokes with Manchester City teammate Joe Hart
However, a series of post-transfer window tweets from the Worcestershire native – who is the founder and CEO of clothing company Manière De Voir – have made his predicament somewhat easier to understand.
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