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“A game changer”: Leeds expert hails Whites’ reported chase for £2m “matchwinner”

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Former Leeds striker and club expert Noel Whelan has told Football Insider that signing Helder Costa from Wolverhampton Wanderers would see Victor Orta add a “matchwinner” to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.

The boss has been chasing new wingers throughout the summer, and saw the first man through the door on Monday when the club announced Jack Harrison’s return for another term.

Leeds are still in talks with Wolves to sign Costa as well, and negotiations are progressing after the 25-year-old indicated his desires to move to Elland Road on loan for the season.

There are still a few potential setbacks stalling negotiations with the Molineux outfit, though, as Football Insider add that the Premier League side are demanding in excess of £2million as a loan fee. But while United chiefs are willing to pay a major sum for an option-to-buy, which is expected to be included in the deal, the loan fee is not proving to be as appealing for figures in West Yorkshire.

The fee is not thought to be a deal breaker, however, as Costa has already cleared out his locker at Wolves’ training facilities and said his temporary goodbyes to his teammates.

His imminent arrival at Thorp Arch would be the third player to join the Whites this week, with Ben White joining Harrison in signing for the club on loan on Monday. Whelan, though, feels it will be Costa that proves to be a “game changer”.

“Costa will be an absolutely brilliant signing for Leeds,” he said. “He’s an international star, a matchwinner, and a game changer.

“If we can get that deal over the line, it’s really exciting. He could be a big player for Leeds next season. With his quality, he would be playing week in, week out.

“He ticks so many boxes – pace, technique, tricks, surprises, and he will excite the Elland Road faithful. He’s played in plenty of big games, and won’t be fazed by the crowd or the expectations at Leeds. He can deal with pressure.

“Costa is exactly the kind of player you need when you are going for promotion, and he will take some of the creativity burden off Pablo Hernandez.”

Hernandez ended the recent campaign as our most influential player with 12 goals and 12 assists, the only Whites ace to achieve double figures in both accounts.

Costa, on the other hand, played 1,346 minutes of top-flight football across his 27 appearances (16 starts), in which he scored once and assisted twice, having played 17 key passes and took 25 shots.

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