Leeds United chiefs will hope transfer miss doesn't get Southampton promoted instead: View | OneFootball

David Brooks was a wanted man in the January transfer window, and his form since making the move back into the Championship has proven exactly why.

The Wales international has been a revelation for a Southampton side who still harbour automatic promotion hopes, with his attacking output really making Russell Martin’s side tick.

Leeds United were also said to be interested in bringing the 26-year-old to the club three months ago, and will rue missing the opportunity with the playmaker propelling the Saints back into the promotion picture as the Whites stumble.

With it still being anyone’s guess which two sides will finish top of the pile in the second tier this season with just a handful of games remaining, the addition of a player of Brooks’ ilk could have gone some way to securing superiority for the Elland Road side.

Brooks has already made a name for himself at St Mary’s, with seven goal involvements since his move along the south coast from AFC Bournemouth.

Some of those have proved crucial in maintaining Saints’ promotion push this campaign, after the Hampshire side seemingly dropped out of contention after a run of just two wins in seven games earlier in the year.

His vision, creativity and nimble feet in the final third has been so influential in unlocking Championship defences of late, with the latest example coming in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Preston North End.

After supplying Adam Armstrong on the wing to set up Che Adams’ first goal of the night, the Welshman had a more direct involvement in the second goal of the night, with a superb reverse pass splitting open the visitors’ defensive line, and leaving the striker with the simplest of opportunities to tuck home.

That is exactly what Martin would have been yearning for when he made the move to sign the creative midfielder in January, and it is safe to say he has delivered time and time again to keep the dream alive for the side in red and white.

With the top three sides continuously faltering of late, Southampton have gained enough ground to seriously consider breaking into the top two with four games remaining; as they currently sit four points behind second-placed Leicester City.

With a run-in that sees them play both the Foxes and Leeds in the final few games of the season, it isn’t entirely implausible to be seeing Martin and Brooks earning their side automatic promotion before the season comes to an end.

If that is to happen, Farke and his side will be kicking themselves for a missed opportunity of bringing in a seasoned Premier League performer into their ranks in January, and a player who could have made all the difference in the final stretch of the season.

Brooks had already played 13 times for the Cherries in the top flight this season, as he continues his recovery from a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 2021, and oozes quality every time he gets on the ball.

Leeds United's promotion push is faltering at the final hurdle

That is exactly what the Whites could have done with in recent weeks, with their inability to put the ball in the back of the net costing them dear with defeats to Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers, as well as a stalemate with Sunderland.

The Elland Road hierarchy must be looking back at their January transfer business with ire, as they failed to bring in a single new face throughout the month, and seem to be paying for that just when it matters the most.

The injection of a player like Brooks would have given the whole squad a shot in the arm, and given Farke extra options when the likes of Patrick Bamford and Crysencio Summerville are having an off day.

With tricky tests to come against Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers before the showdown with Southampton on the final day, Leeds need to make up ground on either Ipswich Town or Leicester City to sneak into the top two, with the Foxes having an extra game to play.

If they fail in that task it will be a journey through their playoffs to decide their fate, and you wouldn’t be surprised if Brooks has the final say if the two clubs do meet in the end-of-season showdown, such is his tendency to shine on the brightest stage.