How close Leeds United came to John McGinn, Scotland’s 2026 World Cup matchwinner | OneFootball

John McGinn’s winner for Scotland at the 2026 World Cup has again highlighted the mistake Leeds United made in 2018, and underlined Aston Villa’s bargain.

According to The Sun, Leeds were among the clubs pursuing the Hibernian midfielder in the summer of 2018. Paul Heckingbottom was in charge, with McGinn in the final year of his contract and open to moving south.

Aston Villa, then in the Championship, completed the signing for £2.75m. Since 2018 McGinn has made more than 300 appearances, scored more than 30 goals and was named club captain in 2022.

The 30-year-old struck the only goal as Scotland beat Haiti 1-0, the country’s first World Cup victory since 1990.

Leeds’ later appreciation was clear. Gordon Strachan said before the tournament: “Bielsa loved him. Loved him. He wanted him. He thought he was fantastic. He thought he was absolutely brilliant.”

For Villa it is more proof of a transformative signing. For Leeds it remains the one that got away.

Source: Leedsunited.news