OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa will arrive at Leeds United knowing that he needs to strengthen a squad that was utterly underwhelming last season as they finished mid-table despite the idea that a push for promotion was achievable.
One area of the squad that Bielsa must look to bolster is on the wings, and he should look to hijack Nottingham Forest’s reported attempts to sign Dinamo Zagreb star Hillel Soudani in order to add some real class to his newly-inherited squad.
Croatian news outlet 24 Sata has reported that Forest are in the final stages of negotiations to sign Soudani, 30, this summer, for a fee worth up to £2.6million.
It is understood that the Algeria international is due in Zagreb on Monday before heading to Forest – and that means Leeds still have the chance to jump in and blow the East Midlands club out of the water to sign him up.
Leeds do not have great options out wide.
Pablo Hernandez was the club’s player of the season last term, but Ezgjan Alioski is too inconsistent and the back-up options are not even worth considering to still be on the books at Elland Road come the end of the summer.
Soudani scores goals for fun and would be an exciting addition to Bielsa’s first team plans.
The Algerian goal machine has been lethal for club and country during his career.
Last term he scored 18 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions for Dinamo Zagreb, while at international level he has found the net 22 times in his 49 caps for Algeria.
Soudani’s ability to cut inside from the wide positions, and also play up front, would make him a really solid addition for Bielsa and he is someone who the newly-appointed Leeds manager can turn into a househould name in English football.