A £10m target for Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United in 2019, Ireland star now joins Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros

Add as preferred source on Google

Back in January 2019, Leeds United were hell-bent on signing a winger to bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion push to the Premier League and it almost saw them land Dan James.

All Leeds fans will know the story of just how close Leeds came to landing the Welsh speed machine. A £10m deal had been agreed with Swansea and James had done a medical, even picking a shirt number.

But with the deadline approaching, Swansea pulled the plug and stopped answering phone calls. The deal was dead, at least until the summer of 2021 when Bielsa finally got his man and signed James for £25m.

The Welshman, who will spearhead Leeds’ attack ahead of a return to the Premier League, was not the only star Leeds considered signing in January 2019. Indeed, another on the radar was Callum O’Dowda.

• READ MORE: How Anton Stach feels about a move to Leeds United from Hoffenheim

Robbie Keane strikes deal for Callum O’Dowda at Ferencvaros

Reports at the time said Leeds were interested in signing O’Dowda from Bristol City, an exciting Irishman impressing at Ashton Gate. A £10m fee was touted for Leeds to sign the winger but it never materialised.

Leeds chose to go after James instead and O’Dowda remained at Bristol City that season, having a hand in 10 goals. Now 30, and boasting 31 Ireland caps, O’Dowda has made a surprise move to Hungary.

Surprising, until you realise it is a fellow countryman in charge, in former Leeds player and assistant boss Robbie Keane. The Elland Road icon is turning heads in his role, guiding Ferencvaros to the title last term.

Ahead of a Champions League qualifying clash, Keane is looking to strengthen and has completed a deal to bring O’Dowda to Hungary. O’Dowda posted on Instagram, after leaving relegated Cardiff City.

His message included: “Having spoken to Robbie Keane about the club and its ambition, it made the decision even easier. I can’t wait to give my all on and off the pitch.”

O’Dowda’s career since being linked with Leeds and Bielsa

The 2018-19 season finished with O’Dowda boasting 10 goals and assists. He remained at Bristol City until the summer of 2022, ending his time at Bristol City with 10 goals and 16 assists in his 176 appearances.

A move to Cardiff followed in 2022, adding another 14 goals and assists in 96 games. As O’Dowda has become more experienced, he has often drifted back into defence to play as a wing-back or a left-back.

Now, he will be preparing for Ferencvaros’ Champions League qualifying campaign which begins at the second stage. They will face either Armenian side Noah, or Buducnost from Montenegro later this month.