Tony Mowbray confirms Birmingham transfer update on Ian Poveda at Leeds United
Tony Mowbray has revealed Birmingham City almost signed Ian Poveda from Leeds United in the January transfer window before he moved to Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
Birmingham were heavily linked with the winger on deadline day before he ultimately made the move across Yorkshire, but it was never clear how close his switch to the Blues actually was.
Mowbray had managed Poveda while the pair were at Blackburn Rovers together, with that pre-existing relationship playing a role in the transfer interest, but Wednesday ended up his preferred destination.
Speaking to the BBC, Mowbray revealed: “We were very close to signing Poveda in this [January transfer] window just gone. I had him at Blackburn Rovers for a season, he’s a very talented young boy.”
Birmingham almost signed Poveda from Leeds United
Birmingham and Mowbray will feel hard done by given how close it now seems they were to signing Poveda on deadline day, having missed out on the deal not only to a divisional rival but to a club looking to drag them deeper into a relegation battle.
Mowbray’s misery will have been compounded when the on-loan winger provided an assist for Wednesday against his Blues side, showing just what they had missed out on late in the January window.
It was reported at the time that Leeds were very happy to lose Poveda, and with his Elland Road deal set to expire at the end of this season, and no new offer on the table, the loan has all but sealed a permanent exit.
This news has come shortly after Wednesday boss Danny Rohl confirmed they will open discussions with the winger to agree a permanent contract in the coming weeks, ready for his Leeds deal to expire.
In other Leeds United news, a star player has suffered another injury blow.
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