OPINION
Leeds United enjoyed a great season in Marcelo Bielsa’s first year in charge at the club but ultimately missed out on promotion to the Premier League after suffering disappointment in the play-offs.
Their success came with great plaudits after a season full of injuries lead to the Argentine using a near identical squad to the one that finished 15th in the season before he arrived.
After news broke on Tuesday that Bielsa would be staying at the club after agreeing to an extra year at Elland Road, former Leeds striker Noel Whelan admitted his fears that his ex-club could finish much lower with no backing in the transfer market.
Speaking to reputable football outlet Football Insider, Whelan said: “Mr Radrizzani has spoken about the running costs of Leeds being high, but the fans are going to want to see investment, I want to see investment, we know we need it.
“Last season, it was a level playing field in the Championship. Next season it will be more difficult. The £7-10million spent last summer, we are going to need to double that.”
Whelan feared that if Leeds do not keep up with the clubs around them financially than they risk finishing in 10th place.
The Whites brought in Patrick Bamford and Barry Douglas last summer after selling starlet Ronaldo Vieira to Sampdoria. Whelan is right in saying that the club needs to invest more and that was highlighted consistently throughout this campaign with Bielsa’s men suffering a freak amount of injuries.
It has been claimed that Andrea Radrizzani has made it clear that Victor Orta will be in the market for Premier League loans and bargain players that can slot in to the side next season and this could be a good plan.
Players such as Jamal Lowe and Reece Brown have been linked with a move to Yorkshire from lower leagues and a number of clubs have achieved success through loanees, with both Derby and Aston Villa bringing in players from above.
Derby’s success was built around influential duo Harry Wilson and Mason Mount whereas Aston Villa’s season was set alight with the arrival of Bournemouth enforcer Tyrone Mings. Both clubs reached the play-off final which led to Villa securing promotion to the Premier League after three years outside the top flight.
Whelan is right that this Leeds side needs backing in the market but to predict a finish as low as 10th, he could have to go back on those words should Marcelo Bielsa work his magic again next season.