Leeds United will have opened talks with Marcelo Bielsa to keep him at Elland Road but it will cost them £4 million to keep the 63-year-old for another season, Danny Mills has told Football Insider.
Bielsa signed a two-year contract with the club after being appointed last June but he is now able to leave if Leeds do not trigger their clause to keep him.
Sky Sports pundit Mills has revealed that multiple factors will come into play to decide whether the Argentine takes charge of the Whites for a second season.
“I believe there is an option Leeds must activate for Bielsa to stay for a second season and you’re looking at another £4million to keep him,” Mills told Football Insider.
“There are discussions to be had and I believe they would have started yesterday. There are lots of questions to be answered. Can he do it again? Does he have the hunger and desire? Does he want to stay for another season? Do Leeds have the funds to help him add to the squad?
“I think it depends on Bielsa. If he wants to stay, then, great, keep him.”
OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa finally got Leeds United playing the way the fans had hoped. It was a remarkable season and Leeds are unfortunate not to find themselves already promoted to the top-flight. Bielsa implemented a style of play that thrilled fans and losing him would mean all of that work would go out of the window. The club must be prepared to fork out the money needed to keep Bielsa at Elland Road otherwise the club will be back to square one on the pitch. It’s even likely that other clubs will be monitoring Bielsa’s contract situation and may want to snatch him from Leeds, although they would have to pay compensation. If the club can keep hold of him and back him in the correct areas in the summer, Leeds could go one better next term and get back to the Premier League. Losing Bielsa would be catastrophic and all Leeds fans can do is hope that the board do enough to convince him to stay on.