Jean-Matteo Bahoya 'reality' comes clear after early Leeds United frustrations
Jean-Matteo Bahoya was an unused substitute in Leeds United's 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday.
The winger was signed on an initial season-long loan from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, but the deal includes an option to buy.
It is believed that the Whites could sign the 21-year-old for £21.4million, as reports suggest terms to meet an obligatory purchase clause are likely to be met.
Bahoya has made just two cameos in the Premier League since arriving at Elland Road, with many supporters frustrated that they haven't seen more of the tricky forward.
Daniel Farke has stressed the importance of patience with the France U21s star, who holds bags of potential.
However, the truth about Leeds' feelings towards the addition of Bahoya has become clear, and it may not be what the player himself wants to hear.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya 'reality' emerges amid early Leeds frustrations
Bahoya made more than 30 appearances for Frankfurt last term, racking up eight goals and assists combined.
He's managed just five minutes of playing time since signing for the Whites, but people thought things might have improved for the left-winger after the international break.
The former Angers talent scored for France's U21s in a 2-0 win over Estonia in a EURO qualification game, but Farke's stance on the player doesn't seem to have changed.
According to Leeds Live, the "reality" is that Bahoya was not the club's primary target in the summer.
The Whites were all in for signing Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea, but it was the Blues who didn't want to send the Ukrainian to Elland Road.
Mudryk was seen as a short-term investment, while Bahoya is viewed as a signing for Leeds' long-term future.
That said, it's likely that Bahoya's name was passed to Farke late in the window, meaning that the German head coach barely had any time to think about how to fit the winger into his plans.
It's clear that the Frankfurt loanee is currently down his pecking order, but with Leeds likely to meet the criteria to make him a permanent addition, they will not treat him as an emergency option.
Why Leeds' current schedule doesn't suit Bahoya
Bahoya's four-minute cameo against Arsenal gave some hope that he would make an appearance against Man United.
The Whites were searching for a goal late on in their 1-1 draw to the Red Devils, which has made many wonder why Bahoya wasn't called upon.
Things may not get any better for him any time soon, because Leeds next five games are all in the Premier League, and are all pretty much a week apart from each other.
The bad news for Bahoya is that Leeds are in good form right now, and Farke has his favoured starting lineup nailed down.
With no need to rotate until the December period, Bahoya could be in for a tricky couple of weeks in terms of game time.