‘I’d drive him there’, ‘Get rid’ – Many Leeds fans want player sold, Phil Hay says exit on cards
A number of Leeds United fans have taken to Twitter to say that Helder Costa should be sold by the club in January if an offer came in.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show podcast, The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported that “if he’s not playing much, then absolutely [he could be sold]“.
Costa, 26, has dropped down Marcelo Bielsa’s pecking order since Raphinha’s emergence at Elland Road and the former Wolves winger has now played in just two of the Whites’ last six Premier League matches.
In a discussion about Costa’s future, Hay added: “It’s possible and I think for Costa there’s a battle to get back involved, especially as Bielsa has such a high opinion of Poveda, albeit as an impact sub.
“When you fall behind someone like Raphinha it becomes difficult because I don’t see him leaving a lot of chinks of light to get back into that side. He looks consistent and very, very good.
“It will be a battle for Costa to get a game.”
Costa started the season brilliantly for Leeds.
He assisted one of the goals in the 4-3 defeat to Liverpool before scoring in the win against Fulham.
For someone who disappointed so often in the Championship last season, the Portuguese winger had started life in the Premier League with Leeds like a house on fire.
Unfortunately, his purple patch ended and that coincided with Raphinha stepping up and seizing the opportunities Bielsa gave him.
Costa’s dip and Raphinha’s stranglehold on the starting line-up has now led to a section of supporters saying that the £15million summer signing should be sold.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
https://twitter.com/Geebo09148569/status/1341476022416519174
We were worried about Costa going into this season because even though he was regularly selected by Bielsa in the Championship, he wasn’t exactly a stand-out player considering how well he did at Wolves in the second-tier a couple of years ago.
But we always pointed to Jack Harrison, who wasn’t anything special in his debut season at Elland Road but really started to shine in his second campaign.
And after a few weeks, we though that Costa might be following in Harrison’s footsteps before the sharp decline and Raphinha’s emergence.
Leeds shouldn’t sell Costa in January.
Firstly, he’s only just signed for the club permanently and he cost the Whites a lot of money.
And also, he’s shown that he can perform in the top-flight and that he can be a key player for Bielsa.
If Raphinha gets injured, do we take a chance on the inexperienced Ian Poveda or do we go for Costa? Someone who has shone already this season.
In other Leeds United news, Roy Keane had made a big admission about the Whites’ survival hopes.