Callum O’Dowda is wants to leave Bristol City this summer, according to the Times, after rejecting a contract earlier this year, and Leeds is his likely destination.
The Ireland international was wanted by Leeds in January, when they also had their sights on Daniel James, who seems set to join Manchester United.
After missing out on James, and with Jack Harrison returning to parent club Man City, The Whites are in need of a winger.
O’Dowda is exactly the type of player they need. And at £6 million he could be a steal. His development has been vast ever since his days at Oxford United, and he has flourished under Lee Johnson at Bristol City.
If it’s one thing Leeds need, it’s pace. And O’Dowda is blessed with it. His direct running could add an extra dimension to Leeds as an attacking force. He is also very versatile, able to play on either wing or behind the striker – exactly the type of roaming player Marcelo Bielsa loves.
If there’s one drawback, with his exceptional pace comes injuries, in three years at Bristol City he has failed to make more than 20 starts in any season. With Leeds’ intense playing style, and their aim for promotion, they will need their key players fit for the duration.
On the brighter side, the purchase would reunite O’Dowda with Kemar Roofe. The pair were exceptional in the Oxford side which won promotion from League Two, with 36 goals between them, and they could reignite the partnership to reach the promise land of the Premier League.