Leeds United and Man United will forever be thankful for Sheffield Wednesday transfer fumble | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday dropped the ball and it was Leeds United and Manchester United that benefitted

Leeds United and Manchester United both benefitted from Sheffield Wednesday fumbling a deal to sign Eric Cantona in the early 1990s.

The Frenchman was offered to the Owls by none other than Michel Platini, according to The Athletic, with Trevor Francis bringing him into the club.

However, a permanent deal failed to come to fruition, with the Yorkshire outfit deciding to only offer a trial to the then 25-year-old.

Francis has claimed that the Yorkshire outfit were unable to offer him a full-time contract due to the likely size of his wages, but a scout for Leeds spotted him during his sole appearance for the club in an in-door fixture against American side Baltimore Blast.

Cantona was a French international at the time already, but had also gained a reputation as a fiery figure that could cause potential issues behind the scenes.

Yet the Whites were not deterred, and ultimately made the deal to sign him in January 1992.

Sheffield Wednesday missed out on an icon

Sheffield Wednesday had just gained promotion to the First Division in 1991 prior to Cantona’s move to Leeds in 1992.

But the Owls earned an impressive third place finish in their first campaign back in the top flight despite opting to not sign the forward.

Given what he went on to achieve, it’s hard not to imagine what Francis’ side might have managed had he been at Hillsborough instead of Elland Road that year.

It was Leeds that won the title that year, the last before the Premier League and the last time they’d be the champions of England in their history up to this point.

Only seven points separated the two clubs, with Manchester United in second, as Sheffield Wednesday earned their best league finish since 1961.

Cantona scored in victories over Luton Town, Wimbledon and Chelsea on Leeds’ way to the title, with the team winning on each occasion.

Had he been with their Yorkshire rivals instead, then perhaps he could’ve made an impact in the title race and potentially even swung it in Sheffield Wednesday’s favour.

Sheffield Wednesday declined as Cantona thrived

Sheffield Wednesday couldn’t maintain the same level of competitiveness into the first Premier League season, coming seventh in the table.

Leeds famously sold Cantona to Man United in November 1992, and his arrival at Old Trafford proved key in bridging the gap between second and first, helping Alex Ferguson’s side to the club’s first title in 26 years.

The Frenchman went on to become the Premier League’s first foreign icon, becoming a cornerstone of the Red Devils’ success in the 1990’s.

Meanwhile, the Owls only moved in the opposite direction in that time, coming seventh, 13th, 15th and seventh in the following years that coincided with Canonta’s Man United career.

The now-58-year-old won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups in his time at Old Trafford, as well as that First Division crown at Leeds.

It remains a massive what-if scenario for Sheffield Wednesday that will forever leave supporters wondering what could’ve been if they hadn’t fumbled the opportunity to sign Cantona.