TBR View: Reported Rangers interest highlights a Victor Orta transfer blunder at Leeds

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Plenty of hype was made when Leeds United completed the signing of unknown striker Caleb Ekuban in the summer of 2017, after he had scored 18 goals the season prior – but he simply did not live up to that promise.

One of Victor Orta’s unknown signings from overseas, Ekuban netted just two goals in 21 outings for Leeds during 2017-18. Upon Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival, Ekuban was shipped out on loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Though Orta was blamed for making a number of flop signings – with Ekuban listed alongside the likes of Pawel Cibicki, Ouasim Bouy, Jay-Roy Grot and more – he may have actually been right about Ekuban.

Indeed, since his move to Turkey, Ekuban has impressed. Playing out wide, up front or in the 10 role, his form has seen the club opt to release Daniel Sturridge. He has scored 16 goals in 61 outings, laying on nine assists in that time, too.

Ekuban has also clocked up caps for Ghana, and now the latest reports show Orta was right about signing Ekuban – but perhaps wrong to sell him for a bargain £2million (Yorkshire Evening Post) less than 12 months ago.

That is because Steven Gerrard’s Rangers and Serie A giants Lazio are both interested in signing Ekuban, and are willing to splash his asking price – worth £8.8million, according to Turkish outlet Fotospor.

Even though Orta was seemingly right about Ekuban, surely Rangers and Lazio becoming interested in Ekuban – and his asking price worth more than four times what Leeds sold him for – shows Leeds and Orta have made a mistake in selling him.

Had Leeds kept Ekuban and continued to give him game time, perhaps under Bielsa, he could have reached the level of quality he is now showing – at Elland Road. Instead, Leeds will have to watch on, if Ekuban completes a big-money move.