A little under a year ago, Leeds were linked with a move for a player in Turkey.

That might not be enough to get your heart racing but in retrospect, not choosing to sign that individual has turned into a considerable mistake from the club’s recruiters and Victor Orta

The player in question is Canada international Cyle Larin, someone currently playing for Besiktas.

In February 2020, a reported £5m deal was on the table for the Whites but they ignored the forward and thus, settled on different targets in the summer window.

Leeds welcomed Rodrigo and Raphinha to Elland Road in a big summer of spending, deals that came to a combined £47m - £42m more than they would have paid for Larin.

In hindsight, this was a terrible decision from the hierarchy at Leeds. Rodrigo has managed just three goals since his record-breaking move to English football but Raphinha has, fortunately, shown better signs.

The Brazilian is a tricky livewire and has amassed 2.4 shots per game this term, registering four goal involvements for his new team. However, the aforementioned Larin is tearing the Turkish Super Lig apart this term.

Since Leeds failed to conclude a move for the 31-cap international, he has been breathtakingly good for Besiktas, firing in goals on a regular basis.

The 25-year-old has netted 14 times in just 20 outings this season, providing two assists in the process. He also takes fewer shots per game than Raphinha which considering his goal output compared to the Leeds winger is mightily impressive.

Yet, you only looked to look at his remarkable accomplishments in the last week. To put things simply, Larin has been incredible. He has scored six goals his last three matches over the past seven days, netting four in a 6-0 rout of Rizespor.

Coincidentally, that came in his only outing of the campaign where he played from Raphinha’s traditional position on the right flank. Capable of playing across the front three, Larin is clearly a dependable performer but to someone like Kaka that will come as no surprise.

He played alongside the great Brazilian at Orlando City where the Ballon d’Or winner only had praise for the Canadian: “I think Cyle can go far. Cyle is a very good player and the third season for us will be great, but I think Cyle can play in a big team in Europe as well,” Kaka commented.

That’s a fine tribute for a player who could have made Leeds’ dynamic attack under Marcelo Bielsa even more exciting.

Judging by Larin’s record this term, not signing him has turned out to be a howler from Orta. Larin is improving all the time and his scintillating record of six goals in seven days is tough to turn a blind eye to.

At the moment, he is the real deal and if he continues to register those types of numbers, bigger teams than Leeds will surely cast their net in the attacker’s direction.

This is undoubtedly one that got away for the Premier League outfit.

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