OPINION
Victor Orta could seal a masterstroke if Leeds United manage to sign Ander Iturraspe on a free transfer in the summer.
The 30-year-old is in the final months of his contract with Athletic Bilbao and according to Spanish newspaper AS, in their Basque edition on Monday [March 11, page 14], Leeds are interested in signing him.
It is understood that the Yorkshire giants have been looking at Iturraspe in each of the last two transfer windows, and on each occasion, the defensive midfielder has been tempted by the Championship club.
However Premier League football is now beckoning, and with the two-times Spain international’s contract ending, Marcelo Bielsa could definitely sign his former player.
Iturraspe was key for Athletic Bilbao when they reached the Europa League final in 2012 as Bielsa used him in a role similar to how he has used Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road in the Championship this season.
The Spaniard sat deep in Bielsa’s midfield, controlled the play and dropped back into the defence when needed.
Iturraspe has been so good during his time at Athletic that in 2014, he was linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
A year later, the midfield enforcer was handed a new four-year deal by his club, with Madrid-based ESPN journalist Dermot Corrigan reporting at the time that there was a £38.7million release clause included in the terms.
Super news for Athletic with Iturraspe signing new deal till 2019, release clause €45m: https://t.co/iXNXYvsjW8
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) May 11, 2015
It would be an insane bargain for Leeds if director of football Orta managed to pick up a player of Iturraspe’s experience and quality on a free transfer when this season ends.
The Whites could certainly do with some of Iturraspe’s experience if they are promoted to the Premier League as well.
After their win against Reading on Tuesday night, Bielsa side’s are top of the Championship with nine games left to play.
It could finally be the year that Leeds return to the Premier League, and if they do, they need to stuff their squad with top-flight experience that can help out the current young guns and hopefully solidify the club’s spot in the top-flight.
Iturraspe is the exact kind of player that Bielsa needs and it would be a major coup if Orta was able to bring him in this year.