OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa has done his utmost to pour cold water on the possibility of Leeds United using the January window as the saviour to the team’s promotion bid.
Until today. But, in a clear U-turn two weeks after claiming it was very unlikely United would sign anyone next month, the manager stated at his media conference on Friday afternoon that there is a good chance of multiple signings arriving at Elland Road.
As quoted by Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay, Bielsa admitted the team has “less players than at the beginning of the season” and there is “the possibility of new recruits” but insisted they have to be “a better level than the players we already have”.
Bielsa: "If we found players better than the ones who left, they would be good additions. But for now it's only a possibility." On replacing Saiz: "The answer I just gave answers that question. If a player arrives, he has to have a better level than the players we already have."
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) December 21, 2018
You do not require the combined detective skills of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple to decipher that Bielsa wants top-quality additions who can immediately make an impact at first-team level.
Players of the quality of summer signings Barry Douglas and Patrick Bamford, and January recruit Adam Forshaw, rather than young guns who might need months of coaching and adaptation before they are ready for senior action.
Bielsa does not mention them by name but he makes it clear that he wants upgrades on recent departees Samuel Saiz and Jamal Blackman.
The playmaker was sold to Getafe on a loan-to-buy transfer on Monday and the goalkeeper broke his leg last month and returned to parent club Chelsea.
Both need replacing, and it appears Bielsa has come around to that point of view.
The spines will be tingling of the entire Leeds fanbase now their feted manager has given the green light for what could now be some seriously exciting January additions.