Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has revealed that as many as 50 clubs wanted to sign Eddie Nketiah before he joined Leeds United.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Johnson told Ian Wright how they themselves were among those in pursuit of the player before he made the switch to Elland Road on loan.
I always try to sign players now where’s there is the potential on bringing them in on a permanent. The only one that hasn’t happened with is Tammy Abraham and we had a hot pursuit on Eddie Nketiah and that didn’t quite work out for us. Those are the two who we felt we wouldn’t be able to get on a permanent.
In response to Wright’s claims about the striker snubbing Bristol City before going on to join Leeds, Johnson went on to say:
I think Leeds are a fantastic club. They have a fantastic manager. By the way, there are 50 clubs that wanted Nketiah. That’s no disgrace.
Nketiah opted to join Marcelo Bielsa’s side after they lost Kemar Roofe, who joined Belgian side Anderlecht in a £7 million deal.
While he hasn’t always been starting, Nketiah has gone on to thrive during the early stages of his Elland Road career, so has he ended up at the right place?
Read Arsenal verdict
It’s easy to see why the Gunners have allowed Nketiah to join Leeds on loan for a season.
He joins a club with a rich history and a great fan base, while he also arrives at a time where expectations have never been higher in the Championship.
Nketiah could be the difference between promotion to the Premier League for Leeds and that will be a big learning curve for the young striker.
Some might argue that a club like Bristol City, who themselves will want to push for the play-offs, or even a mid-table Bundesliga side may have been an easier option for the player.
However, at Leeds there are clear demands from the player and he will learn from one of the best managers European football has seen in the last decade.
Johnson will feel aggrieved to miss out on his signature, but from an Arsenal perspective, this is a deal that has turned out brilliantly for them.
