A new six-part documentary on Leeds is set to reveal exactly what happened on that fateful day in January when Dan James’ transfer from Swansea fell through.
‘Take Us Home: Leeds United’, which launches on Amazon Prime on Friday, tells the rollercoaster story of the 2018/19 campaign at Elland Road, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes access and narration from Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe.
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There are almost too many dramatic incidents to list – Spygate, the Aston Villa goal, the play-off collapse against Derby – and it’s sure to be a fascinating watch.
In another flashpoint, Leeds failed to sign 21-year-old winger James following a remarkable turn of events on deadline day in January.
The Wales international, who has since joined Manchester United for £18million, completed a medical at Elland Road, conducted interviews, and even posed in a Leeds shirt, before Swansea pulled the plug at the eleventh hour.
James was left stranded at Elland Road, waiting for the move to be signed off, but travelled back to Swansea in disappointment when the Welsh club decided they were not satisfied with the structure of the £10million deal.
Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa refused to blame the club’s failure to land James for their calamitous run-in last season.
The Whites were cruising to the automatic promotion spots before a string of shocking results landed them in the play-offs, where they were beaten by Derby in the semi-finals, extending their long exile from the Premier League.
Bielsa said: “I’m not underlying the importance of the absence of James, I’m underlying that the club struggled to get James.
“But with James or without him we should have finished first or second without any doubt.”
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and given James’ form since January, you can’t help but wonder whether Leeds would be a Premier League club had he signed.
The winger scored on his competitive debut for the Red Devils on Sunday, coming off the bench to round off a 4-0 victory over Chelsea.
The documentary will also offer behind-the-scenes access ‘from the boardroom to the changing room’ and will document the now infamous Spygate scandal, which saw the club fined £200,000 for watching opponents train.
The series will also see Marcelo Bielsa give his first sit down interview in more than two decades.