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Orta has work cut out if he is to deliver Bielsa’s demands

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OPINION

Leeds United are sure to have a busy summer ahead of them after a disappointing end to their Championship campaign – with new recruits and potential exits all on the cards.

The Whites need to find a way to bury their frustrations of their failed play-off campaign and focus on making sure they are totally prepared to launch another promotion bid when the league kicks off again in August.

It will require plenty of hard work from Marcelo Bielsa and his team both out on the training ground and behind the scenes – perhaps none more so than Victor Orta.

The Spaniard is Leeds’ director of football and is in charge of recruitment at Elland Road, meaning it is him who will be dealing with getting Bielsa the signings he wants to bolster his side for the new campaign.

The Yorkshire Evening Post report that Brighton defender Ben White and Wolves winger Helder Costa are on the Whites’ radar, with loan deals lined up for the Premier League pair, and that Bielsa wants a number of his signings through the door when they kick off their training campaign in three weeks.

Unfortunately, the Argentine must be prepared to be frustrated by his fellow senior figure, with quick captures seemingly not in his repertoire.

The first capture Leeds managed last summer was young Jordan Stevens at the start of July, while in terms of a senior signing it was Barry Douglas’ arrival which came first.

New arrivals were a little quicker in Orta’s first season in the role, Felix Wiedwald signed before the start of July, while Vurnon Anita, Caleb Ekuban, Ezgjan Alioski and Samu Saiz were all on board before the end of the second week.

However, getting players in over the next three weeks is going to be a difficult task – with players and clubs on holiday – and Bielsa must be prepared for his request of early arrivals to fall through.

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