With the attack seemingly sorted with the additions of Helder Costa and Jack Harrison, along with the retention of Jack Clarke, it looks as though attention will be moving to the rest of the squad for the time being.
And Leeds could be handed a bit of a lifeline in trying to get one of their targets to come to Elland Road, as The Sun reveals that Leyton Orient have turned down Tottenham’s £300k approach for defender Dan Happe. With Leicester and Norwich also targeting the Orient man, they’ll have to be quick if they are to seal his signature before the other clubs.
With Pontus Jansson potentially heading out the door, and with the Leeds fans not exactly confident when it comes to the rest of their defensive lineup, they need to start looking at their defence.
Adding someone in as young as this would be an excellent step forward, not just for this upcoming season, but also laying the groundwork for future years with or without Bielsa. Although, as I’ve said before, I don’t think the boss would sign off on the signing of so many young players if he didn’t think he was going to be around to coach them in the future.
This isn’t necessarily me saying that Happe should be thrown straight into the first team. Bielsa has also made signings in the form of Guille Amor and Rafa Mujica, who went straight into their respective academy sides. So if the manager feels he needs a few more months of development before making the step up, or if he wants to copy what Leeds and Spurs have done with Jack Clarke and send him back to the League Two side for another season or two, then I wouldn’t see the harm in that.
The great faith that the owners have shown in Bielsa in making so many signings is an encouraging sign, but if Bielsa feels that they need more bodies, regardless of what team they go in, then the Leeds board must give in to every one of his demands.
They may never get a better chance at promotion, or another great manager like this again.