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MOT View: Two big Tuesday landmarks could result in players signing for Leeds United
Leeds United fans have been patient but they’re starting to get restless.
The Premier League starts in a little over five weeks and Leeds need new players for an assault on the top-flight.
It’s going to be a big preseason as Marcelo Bielsa looks to get even more out of his current crop of players – and introduce new players into the squad.
The transfer window isn’t going to be an easy one for Leeds – it stays open until October, way past the start of the new Premier League.
And Bielsa has proven himself to be a stickler for using players who have been through a proper preseason with him.
Pontus Jansson ended up leaving the club after asking to come back to preseason late two seasons in a row. He was dropped by Bielsa for the first two games in the 18/19 season and then sold the following summer.
Getting players in quick is going to be key for Leeds and Bielsa, and while there hasn’t been any solid news yet – beyond Leeds confirming deals for Helder Costa and Illan Meslier – that could change after today.
Two big things are happening today that could have a seismic effect on the transfer market and for Leeds in particular.
- Wigan hear appeal result
Wigan were relegated after being deducted 12 points but the result of their appeal is set to be announced at 4pm today. Leeds have reportedly agreed a £1m deal for striker Joe Gelhardt and are hoping to win the race for another of their forwards, Sean McGurk. If Wigan’s relegation is confirmed, we’d expect players to move sooner rather than later.
- Championship play-off
The big one. Leeds have been linked strongly with a move for Brentford’s Said Benrahma. Phil Hay has said they’re confident of signing him for under £20m if Brentford don’t go up. Hay also linked Leeds with Bees striker Ollie Watkins. Both would be big signings and both are unlikely to happen if Brentford go up. On the other side, Hay talked of Leeds’ interest in Fulham left-back Joe Bryan – that’s another position Leeds are looking to strengthen.
No up, no down, please
We really hope Wigan don’t get relegated. The football fan in us thinks they deserve to stay up in the Championship after their incredible second half of the season.
However, we’d love to sign Gelhardt for £1m and think he can trouble the first team next season. The more time he spends with Bielsa the better.
As for Brentford, two of the potential summer signings we’re most excited about are Watkins and Benrahama.
It means that we’re firmly on the side of Fulham tonight – we don’t see the potential of signing Joe Bryan as any sort of consolation and we don’t see Leeds signing Aleksandar Mitrovic.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay delivers Bielsa update, expects Leeds to confirm major loan signing this week