OPINION
Pre-season is underway at Leeds and so far no new names have been brought in to strengthen the squad.
However, that could all change very shortly with Leeds said to be close to landing some of their main summer targets.
Phil Hay has claimed that Brighton centre-back Ben White had a medical at Elland Road yesterday and Jack Harrison is set to re-join the club on another season-long loan on Monday.
However, the one that fans should be getting excited about is Helder Costa.
The Telegraph’s John Percy said that the Wolves winger will sign this week and that he has already “said his goodbyes” to his teammates.
#lufc will complete the signing of #Wolves winger Hélder Costa next week. Costa is signing on loan for the season and said his goodbyes (for the year, anyway) at Compton on Friday #wwfc
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) June 29, 2019
Costa struggled with Wolves in the Premier League last season but that’s just aided his availability, and he has solid numbers where it counts for Leeds, in the Championship. He dazzled for Wolves in the 16/17 season when he was named Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year.
Joe Lolley was one of the Championship’s standout performers last season for Nottingham Forest, and he made the WhoScored top-rated team, with a score of 7.4.
Compare his stats to Costa’s in the Championship and you can see why Marcelo Bielsa wants the 25-year-old at Elland Road.
He has a superior xG (expected goals) per 90 to Lolley – 0.26/0.2 – and a goal every four games from the wing would boost Leeds in the one area they fell down in last season [www.wyscout.com].
His passing accuracy is almost identical to Lolley’s – 75.7%/75.6% (short passes), 51.4%/50.2% (long passes), and he delivers more crosses – 3.84/2.6.
Lolley wins on dribbles per 90, but both players’ numbers are high – 7.26/8.58.
Bielsa wanted and looks like he’s getting Harrison back on loan and Costa knocks his numbers into a cocked hat. In the Championship, Harrison has an xG of 0.16, with a 69.6% short pass and 43% long pass success rate.
Harrison only attempts 5.76 dribbles per 90 but does provide more crosses than Costa.
Based on these stats, Costa will offer a real threat going forward and that’s what Leeds need after scoring less than five other teams in the top six last season, and the same as Brentford who finished in 11th.