In recent comments made on Twitter, Phil Hay provided an update on the ongoing situation surrounding Marcelo Bielsa’s contract renewal at Leeds United.
Following a season in which Bielsa guided United back to the Premier League for the first time in 16-years, there has been, rather understandably, a feel-good factor around the club.
This feeling was likely only enhanced by the impressive signings of Freiburg centre-back Robin Koch and Valencia forward Rodrigo, the latter of which was for a €29 million (£26 million) club-record fee.
However, there has been one slightly sour note in the off-season for Leeds, as Bielsa is yet to sign a new deal with the club, and is technically out of contract after his previous two-year deal expired at the end of last season.
When questioned on Twitter for an update on the situation surrounding the manager’s contract, Hay admitted that the situation is an unusual one, however, he did confirm that the club are ‘essentially in agreement’ with the Argentine regarding a new deal.
He wrote: “I know it’s unusual. If what we’re being told is correct (and I’ve no reason to doubt that it is) then it’s just a case of him crossing Ts and dotting Is very slowly. The club have been saying for weeks that they’re essentially in agreement.”
Are you worried about Bielsa's contract?
No, he will sign
Yes, something could go wrong
TIF Thoughts…
While it is undoubtedly good news for Leeds that Hay has said a new contract for Bielsa is very close, the situation remains very odd.
At present, the club are set to kick off their Premier League season with a visit to Anfield on September 12, which, at time of writing, is just over a week away.
If Bielsa does go on to sign a new deal in the coming days, then this will all be redundant, however, for the state of mind of the fans, and even to some extent, the state of mind of the players, it is hardly an outlandish claim to suggest that the club would have liked to have their manager signed to a new deal much earlier than now.