Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa wants to get two deals over the line before the summer transfer window slams shut, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The report claims that Bielsa is on the hunt for a central defender and a midfielder after watching his side’s first Championship game against Stoke.
Matthew Pennington is one of the names on the Leeds shortlist, and Bielsa is waiting to see if the Premier League side will allow him out on loan again to Elland Road after a mixed last season.
Injuries blighted his first stint at Elland Road but it is said that he would only be required as cover and Everton may prefer to put him with a club who will guarantee him game time.
Good move for Leeds?
Bielsa has already shown that he can galvanise last year’s squad in a way that Paul Heckingbottom couldn’t, However, he also showed off his new attacking style of play and it’s become apparent that Leeds are going to need cover across all positions. The intensity in his play is awesome but it will lead to fatigue and injuries and it’s crucial that Leeds have quality cover across all positions. Central defence is an area of concern and Pennnington could definitely do a job there. Ronaldo Vieira moved to Sampdoria, reportedly against Bielsa’s wishes and that’s another area that Leeds need to try to fill before the transfer window shuts.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
There’s not long left to bring in permanent deals but the loan window is open until August 31 so Leeds still have time to find the players that Bielsa wants. Ideally they’ll get an answer on Pennington quickly so they can move onto other targets if it’s a no-go. Victor Orta was spotted at the Hull City v Aston Villa game last night, so he’s still on the lookout for new recruits. We’d expect both positions to be filled by the end of the month, if not before.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10