Leeds United insider Phil Hay has offered fans an update on what is going on in regards to Marcelo Bielsa’s contract negotiations.
It’s fair to say that the Argentinean has helped create something of a revolution when it comes to Leeds United, taking a team that was used to lot of mid-table finishes in the Championship, to being one of the better promoted teams in the Premier League, all in his very own ‘entertaining’ way.
However, he is only on a one-year deal at the club that is fast approaching the end. But speaking on the Ask Ornstein podcast (1:08), Hay was quick to reassure fans that everything was normal and that it was Bielsa’s preference to wait until the season is over before negotiations became serious, and that he still expects him to sign a new deal when all is said and done:
“I get the impression that he would like to stay if all things are equal. The one thing he’s not going to do and hasn’t done previously is commit before the end of the season, unless the club finds some way of twisting his arm. It’s been that way with him previously, where he’s wanted to save negotiations until all the games are done. They [Leeds] would prefer a scenario where they had somebody who was tied down for two years, three years longer than 12 months at a time.
“And I think they would like to avoid, the repetitiveness of having to get into contract talks with them repeatedly. But they certainly want to keep him I’d be very surprised if at this juncture he intends to go.”
Will Marcelo Bielsa stay at Leeds United?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Phil Hay’s comments on Marcelo Bielsa’s contract negotiations at Leeds United
You just hope that Hay’s faith in the process is well placed, because this could cause some issues moving forward. The longer it takes Bielsa to officially sign, then the more uncertain things could become in the transfer window.
After all, would a player agree to move if they were unsure the head coach is officially going to stick around? And if they end up playing catch-up after the contract negotiations, then it might cause them to lose out on a few players they should realistically be looking at bringing in already with their Premier League status pretty much secured.
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