Some Leeds supporters have been reacting on social media, after Sky Sports claimed Manchester United are close to agreeing a £15million deal for Swansea winger Daniel James.
The 21-year-old had come as close as physically possible to sign for the Whites back in January, having travelled to Elland Road for a medical and to negotiate personal terms.
We had even agreed a deal with Swansea to see the Wales international join Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, too. But the Jacks pulled the plug at the eleventh hour, feeling that our £10million combined option-to-buy, dependant on promotion, was insufficient.
Negotiations between our top winter target and Swansea over a new contract then got underway, with his deal at the Liberty Stadium due to lapse in the summer of 2020.
Since returning to Wales from his Elland Road medical, James continued to hit great heights under Graham Potter, which had attracted the attention of numerous Premier League sides, all vying to beat us to the punch and acquire the pacey wide man.
Altogether during his breakthrough campaign with Swansea, James has four Championship goals and seven assists to his name, and was declared the Man of the Match when Wales beat Slovakia in March.
Now, it seems, the Red Devils have won the race, as Sky are claiming he is set to join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rebuilding mission at Old Trafford, and give the former centre-forward the youthful winger he is thought to be after.
News that we look set to miss out on James again easily got some of the Elland Road faithful reacting online…
Hope we will get a statement of apology and a thank you from Dan James’s agent later. The guy stuck the boot into the Swans for pulling the plug on a move to Leeds that he was desperate to push through in Jan.
— JonMainwaring (@JonMainy) May 10, 2019
Another chapter in this amazing/bizarrre/long season. Dan James pictured in Leeds kit in January, signs for Scum in May #lufc
— Jack Pearson (@JackTPearson) May 10, 2019
We should be in the Prem with Dan James instead we’ll be stuck in the Championship with Jack Harrison. Only Leeds. #lufc
— Ross O’Connor (@lufcroc) May 10, 2019
You’d have thought a gentleman’s agreement would be in place on the basis of promotion
— PezLUFC???????? (@aperry1986) May 10, 2019
Essentially Bielsa has been a free scouting tool for other clubs to use. Just so happens he’s been even better post-january than pre.
— leedsyorks68 (@leedsyorks68) May 10, 2019
Think this one is gone now, bit of a shame. Would have been good to get over the line in January
— James Pearson (@JamesPearson25) May 10, 2019
It is what it is,,can’t really complain about something we never had,,if it doesn’t happen we move on #lufc
— paul kelly (@paulie_lufc) May 10, 2019
Sickening
— Donal Ennis (@smackmabonzoup) May 10, 2019
We’ll take Rob Hulse on a free in the summer instead ????????
— Matt Hill (@MattyHill83) May 10, 2019