After narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United bid to return next season. With talk of the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto leaving, is Callum O’Hare the right replacement?
The attacker joined Coventry City in 2020 after a temporary spell at Carlisle United and progressing through the Aston Villa academy. After a successful loan in 2019 with the midlands-based outfit they won promotion back to the Championship.
At the Sky Blues, the forward has excelled. Performances against top-level opposition like Leicester City and Manchester United highlight his qualities. Despite this, his time has been hurt by injuries such as the ACL injury in 2022.
His brilliant performances have seen Mark Robins’ side see major success. His side has won League One, made the Championship play-off final and narrowly lost in the FA Cup semi-final.
With the 26-year-old’s contract coming to an end, many clubs have been linked with the Englishman’s services. Leeds United have been linked with the midfielder as they look to strengthen following disappointment last campaign.
Former teammate of O’Hare, Alan Hutton, when talking to Football Insider reported that Leeds are targeting his ex-colleague to directly replace Crysencio Summerville.
As a result of the Whites’ defeat to Southampton in the play-off final, a new transfer strategy has been identified. Daniel Farke’s side are looking at cheaper and more cost-efficient players due to wage bills and budgets last season.
This has led former Whites goalkeeper Paul Robinson to say:
“Leeds are looking at players who won’t cost a lot of money at the moment, and obviously O’Hare falls into that category.
“We don’t know what will happen with players like Summerville and Gnonto yet – O’Hare doesn’t get into that side now, but does if they get sold.
“The biggest thing for Daniel Farke is to be aware and speak to the board about what they have available.
“This is nothing new – last season, Leeds will have organised a Premier League budget and a Championship budget, and Farke will have some idea of who will be there and who won’t next season.
“They’ll have areas of recruitment that they need to look at, but it’s just numbers that they won’t be sure of.
“If Summerville goes, for instance, they don’t yet know what fee they’ll receive and how much of that can be reinvested into the squad, which is why they’re currently looking at frees and low-fee signings. So, I can definitely see O’Hare signing for Leeds after Summerville is sold.”
Therefore, Championship level players will be a focus. Due to O’Hare’s contract coming to an end, he fits the policy installed to battle for the league.
Writer’s View
Overall, this would be a great acquisition for Daniel Farke’s side. Lower wages and no transfer fee mean that O’Hare can become a prominent figure for the Yorkshire-based side this season.
As for the 26-year-old, this is a great opportunity to become a mainstay for a potential Premier League side. However, he has become a hero at Coventry and few would begrudge him committing his future to the club. He knows that he would remain a regular under Mark Robins, but testing himself at a club the size of Leeds may well suit him at this stage of his career.
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