Leeds United chances of signing Oliver McBurnie have reportedly gone up after the odds were slashed on the Swansea City star by online bookies. However, it would appear that the transfer of the striker will have a final battle to be fought between Rangers and Leeds United as both are equally interested in securing his signature. The former Bradford City striker is away on national duty with Scotland and he will not return until July.
Due to the player’s unavailability, Swansea City will wait and decide on his future at the club only after he returns. This will mean that Leeds United, who are also interested in him, will have to wait till then to sign the talented youngster.
Swansea for their part want to keep McBurnie and are reportedly ready to offer him a new deal with improved terms to ensure he does not leave. Swansea had a terrible season in the English Premier League.
They started off extremely slowly and were doomed to relegation. However, when Paul Clement was replaced by Carlos Carvalhal, there were hopes of rejuvenation. They went on a good streak and won several matches in a row. However, another late slump in April and May resulted in them ending the season badly and they ended up getting relegated.
This will mean that Swansea City will now be a part of the Championship outfits and will be direct rivals with Leeds United. Hence, even if they do have to sell McBurnie, they will not want to strengthen a direct rival by gifting them a natural goal scorer.
McBurnie has not been able to make the cut at Swansea City, which might make him keen on a move. After a frustrating first half of the season, the player moved to Barnsley on a loan spell where he enjoyed a successful stint. He scored 9 goals in 16 starts for the Championship outfit and was extremely useful as a frontman.
He has a typical central forward figure and stands at a height of 188 cm. He is strong and broad which allows him to hold off defenders and play as a target man. He is strong in the air, credit to natural height and does not shy away from a physical battle.
The player is only 21 years old and has a long future ahead of him. If he does move to Leeds United, he will definitely get more time on the pitch than at Swansea but it does not make him a guaranteed starter. The Whites have an entire transfer market to solve their goal-scoring woes and it is unlikely that they will just settle for one 21-year-old forward to lead their frontline.
They have the ability to get more players in and that might put McBurnie back on the bench, exactly where he is at Swansea City. So the player should give it a thorough thought before taking any decision regarding his future.
