Leeds in the driver’s seat when it comes to promotion to the Premier League, and although recent complications have undermined our promotion bid, we will hopefully still end up in the top-flight.
It promises to be a big summer, therefore, as Marcelo Bielsa should be keen to retain important loan players like Jack Harrison and Ben White, while improving the squad where he can.
One loan man who is guaranteed to stay is Helder Costa, as we have an obligation to purchase the 26-year-old for £15m when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.
He has been a mixed bag this season with four goals and five assists, and has arguably failed to live up to expectation, but a new league could offer a new challenge, and a chance for the Portuguese man to prove himself at Elland Road.
Former player Danny Mills is confident he will begin to deliver, and hinted that he could be better suited to the Premier League due to certain attributes that he possesses.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said:
“He knows the club and that is a big advantage.
“The Premier League is different to the Championship and some players’ styles are more suited. You get a little bit more time on the ball in the Premier League sometimes. It is not as physical or robust.
“Some players are better in the Premier League than they are in the Championship.”
The £9m-rated player, per Transfermarkt, should be eager to quell any doubts that he has been overpriced, and hopefully that motivates him to improve.
Harrison’s own progression is an example to learn from, having gone from a WhoScored average rating of 6.6 in 2018/19 to 7.04 in 2019/20.
That shows the influence Bielsa has had on his game, and after a year of learning Leeds’ style of play and getting used to the strict fitness regiment, Costa should come back ready to play his part in what should be a memorable year in West Yorkshire.
He has experienced the Premer League before – with Wolves – which is an added bonus, particularly as the squad is lacking in that particular area currently.