Phil Hay: Bielsa has found the player he wants to replace Jack Clarke at Leeds
It looks like Leeds United will be looking to bring two outfield players in this January, and Marcelo Bielsa has already identified one of them.
Both Jack Clarke and Eddie Nketiah have been recalled from their loans early – Nketiah after the 1-1 draw with West Brom last night – and Leeds will look to replace both of them.
Talking after the game in a Q&A on the Athletic, Phil Hay revealed that Leeds have already identified the winger they want to bring in.
However, he didn’t name the player or say how likely it was that he would join.
Hay also said that the priority would be to find a new striker after Nketiah waved his final farewell to the Leeds fans.
Bielsa confirmed that Leeds would look to bring in a new striker after the game but admitted it would be tough to find someone in January who is in good form.
He said that Leeds would have to be clever and the hope is that the club strikes quickly to give the new player plenty of time to work himself into the Bielsa system.
One of the names that has been mentioned is Southampton’s Che Adams, although that could hinge on the Premier League side signing a new striker themselves.
That could push any potential deal back deeper into the January window.
While he made two starts for Southampton over the festive period, he’s not in good form and is struggling in the top flight. He hasn’t scored a goal yet since his £15m move from Birmingham in the summer.
In other Leeds United news, ‘The word from down south’ – Phil Hay delivers Leeds update on Che Adams as Nketiah exits