MOT View: End of the line for £32k/wk Leeds 26yo who will struggle to start again this season
It’s been a terrible season so far for Leeds United winger Helder Costa.
After a fast start to the season that peaked with a brilliant display in the 3-0 win against Aston Villa, it’s been all downhill for Costa since.
He was dropped after the Leicester game, given a reprieve against Palace when he was put on at half-time, and then dropped from the squad entirely for the Newcastle game.
The Crawley cup game was his chance to prove to Marcelo Bielsa that he deserves a place back in the Leeds starting XI and he flunked it completely.
One of the worst, certainly one of the most ineffectual, players on the pitch, Costa is surely on borrowed time at Leeds.
Bielsa has a mass of options in his position and Jack Harrison, Raphinha, Ian Poveda and even Gjanni Alioski are all ahead of him in the pecking order for the wing slots at the moment.
We can’t see any way he starts again this season unless there are injuries or suspensions.
For a player who Leeds paid £16m for, that’s a massive worry and Costa is reportedly drawing £32k-a-week wages as well.
Leeds aren’t going to move him on in the January window unless things take a dramatic turn for the worse behind the scenes.
However, Costa must be on the cut list for the summer, when Leeds will be looking to strengthen for their second season in the Premier League.
Wolves didn’t think Costa was good enough for the Premier League and we’re now looking to emulate and overtake them in the top-flight.
Consistency is absolutely key in the Premier League. It’s no good putting in two or three 7/10s in a season and then ranging from 5s to 6.5s in your other games.
Leeds need 7s and above as a minimum and we just don’t think Costa is up to the job.
In other Leeds United news, ‘No coincidence’ – Karen Carney makes Leeds claim after shock 3-0 loss v Crawley