Leeds United chose to sign Jean-Kevin Augustin over a player just called-up by England boss Thomas Tuchel

Add as preferred source on Google

Thomas Tuchel is preparing for his first outing as England boss when The Three Lions host Albania and one player he has called-up almost joined Leeds United – but Jean-Kevin Augustin was signed instead.

Tuchel will take to the Wembley dugout on Friday as 2026 World Cup qualifying begins against Albania. He has made some interesting selections – the return of Jordan Henderson, even calling up Dan Burn.

Meanwhile, Leeds are currently pushing for promotion to the Premier League just like they were back in the 2019-20 season. January 2020 saw Leeds need a striker and the club signed Jean-Kevin Augustin.

Probably the worst signing in Leeds’ recent history, as Augustin managed just three appearances and the Frenchman cost the club a huge eight-figure fee. But he was signed over a player called-up by Tuchel.

• READ MORE: What Leeds United have told Isaac Schmidt about his lack of game time

Leeds United wanted to sign Jarrod Bowen in January 2020

Back in 2022, Phil Hay was still reporting on Leeds United and on The Phil Hay Show he said that Leeds wanted to sign now-West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen in January 2020 – but chose Augustin instead.

Then at Hull, the Tigers were only willing to let Bowen join Leeds on loan if it included an obligatory purchase – something The Whites were not ready to do. Instead, they were rinsed by signing Augustin.

Hay said: “They looked at Jarrod Bowen, who was at Hull as well. I think that would’ve had to have been essentially the same [type of] deal [as Augustin] if they had been able to do anything with him.

“They would’ve taken him [on loan] but agreed to an obligation to take him permanently because Hull wanted the commitment to that fee being paid, and as time ticked on, they settled on Augustin.”

How Jarrod Bowen and Jean-Kevin Augustin have got on since

Bowen’s career has blossomed after joining West Ham from Hull that month, becoming a club legend after scoring the winner in the Europa Conference League final. 112 goals and assists in 268 matches.

Augustin has gone from bad to worse. 11 games for Nantes in two seasons, followed by eight goals in just 43 games for Basel over the last two years. Leeds made a colossal mistake as Bowen shines.

Whether he would have had the same impact had he joined Leeds remains to be seen but Bowen is now considered one of the Premier League’s best attacking players and how, Leeds could have done with him.