Leeds need to sell a brutal £23.4m problem which Bielsa described as ‘special’

Before the 2019/20 season. Leeds United They were entering their sixteenth year away from Premier League – They have even been relegated to League One since their last spell in League One.

This was their second campaign under Marcelo Bielsa After missing out on promotion following a semi-final defeat to Derby County the previous year.

His strict regime has captured the hearts of the Whites’ fans, giving them the belief that they can finally end the generational wait for top-flight football at Elland Road.

The Argentine will get the job done, and claim the title in a year affected by the coronavirus, which has seen no fans able to witness their success on the field under restrictions.

However, promotion allowed an influx of new additions to arrive at Yorkshire, many of whom made a significant impact on the first team following their moves.

Bielsa’s best transfers as Leeds coach

Winger Rafinha has joined the club In a deal worth 17 million pounds sterling From French club Stade Rennes, adding great quality to the Whites’ attacking line before his return to the English Premier League.

The Brazilian will make an immediate impact at Elland Road, He scored six goals and recorded nine assists During his first season in England – he looked like he was worth every penny of his transfer fee.

The 27-year-old scored 11 goals the following year. Resulting in a transfer of £55 million To Spanish club Barcelona – making a huge profit in the process but undoubtedly eliminating their biggest attacking threat.

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier regularly arrived during the same window as the striker, providing a consistent presence between the posts that was often missing during the time under Bielsa in the tournament.

French He joined in a £5m deala deal given the fact that he’s been gone since then The record is just shy of 200 appearances Leeds have kept 11 clean sheets in 20 league matches in 2024/25.

However, time may be running out for one player who has been at his best during Bielsa’s time as coach.

Bielsa’s signature that Leeds needs to sell

attacker Patrick Bamford He arrived during Bielsa’s first window as manager during the summer of 2018, At a cost of £7 million from Middlesbrough Hoping to provide goals to get the club out of the second division.

He achieved double figures in his first two years at Yorkshire, helping to secure promotion, but his first year in the top flight in a white shirt was the highlight of his time at Elland Road.

English He scored 17 goals in 38 league matchesHe finished fourth on the division’s top scorers list, which led to… Then-manager Bielsa described the spell as “special”..

“This is a player who strengthens the team. He allows us to play our style. Now that he has a job and a special role in the team, but this is what I mentioned before. The organization of the team is related to him.”

However, his level has declined rapidly over the past few years, and he only scored 17 times during the past four yearsHe participated in only eight matches during the current campaign.

Injuries hampered him greatly Featuring 77 minutes In the tournament, all of that He earns £70,000 a weekmore than any player on the current team.

During his six years at Yorkshire, he earned a staggering £16.4m, which, when combined with transfer fees, saw him cost £23.4m in total.

Given his huge profits and lack of influence in recent years, he is a manager Daniel Fark They should look to sell the fan favorite in January, cutting costs but also potentially reinvesting the money in another spell.

The club is hoping to end their two-year absence from the English Premier League, with a new striker who will give them the additional ammunition needed to secure their return.

If they are to do that, Bamford may need to make room, giving him the opportunity to play elsewhere and regain his goalscoring touch away from Elland Road.