By Craig Scott

18th Apr, 2022 | 5:10pm

Perfect chance for Leeds United to sign Donny van de Beek from Manchester United after initial Marcelo Bielsa refusal

Leeds United could be handed the perfect chance to sign Donny van de Beek in the summer transfer window.

Van de Beek, 25, joined Everton on loan from Manchester United in January after Marcelo Bielsa refused the opportunity to strike a deal.

The Athletic journalist Phil Hay reported on 1 February that intermediaries were in touch with the Whites about a loan move to Elland Road for the Dutch international, who’d struggled for game-time at Man United.

The Yorkshire Evening Post added that after speaking to Bielsa about van de Beek – and Tottenham’s Harry Winks – they walked away from talks.

However, despite van de Beek being put to Bielsa, the former Leeds United manager turned down a loan deal and the midfielder ended up going to Everton.

Since joining the Toffees, it hasn’t been great for van de Beek, who’s struggled with injuries and has failed to pick up his form in a team that’s been absolutely woeful this season.

But Leeds still need to add to their midfield and given the chance to work at a club that has a solid coaching team and are way more established than Everton or Man United, van de Beek could shine.

According to the Manchester Evening News on 13 April, incoming Man United manager Erik ten Hag may not fancy £108,000-a-week midfielder [De Telegraaf  ] van de Beek despite working so well with him previously at Ajax.

That means the opportunity could arise for Jesse Marsch to sign van de Beek in the summer and do what Bielsa failed to do in many a transfer window at Elland Road – sign a midfielder.

In other Leeds United news, this Whites player is now “affordable” for a Premier League rival after what was reported.