OPINION
The arrival of a new manager often represents a fresh start for the players, with the slates wiped clean and opportunities for redemption up for grabs – but that might not be the case at Leeds United this summer.
The Whites are now under the stewardship of former Lille boss and he has taken no time at all into bedding in and making important decisions on his squad – Felix Weidwald already out the exit door just a year after arriving at Elland Road.
Pre-season training is the time where players will get to prove that they deserve to be part of the manager’s squad, and with Leeds tipped to be busy in the transfer market between now and August, having seen just one signing in the shape of Lewis Baker through the door, there will be a number of existing stars beginning to feel the heat.
The arrival of Baker, a midfielder, will no doubt be putting pressure on the midfield options at Bielsa’s disposal, and there are three in the firing line.
Leeds Live claim that the new boss is dishing out tough love and that those on the fringes of the first team could find themselves shipped out, be that on loan or permanently.
The report names Ronaldo Vieira, Kalvin Phillips and Conor Shaughnessy as potential departures, all having found themselves picking up first team action last season, but with the likes of Adam Forshaw, Eunan O’Kane, Mateusz Klich and Yosuke Ideguchi also in the mix, there are too many pegs and not enough holes.
The trio are all highly rated but at the same time cannot live off reputation alone, and need to be at the top of their game for the pre-season preparations or face the axe.
It is a critical time for them, all relatively young but with experience under their belts, and if they want to make the grade at Elland Road, then this is the time to do so.