Phil Hay: Leeds United winger Helder Costa wanted in Spain
Helder Costa’s future at Leeds United remains in doubt with clubs from Spain interested in the Portuguese winger, according to Phil Hay.
Writing on The Athletic website, Hay reported that if Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta sign another winger this summer, Costa, 27, is someone who could leave Elland Road.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist said: “The arrival of another winger, on the back of Jack Harrison’s permanent £11million move from Manchester City, would raise questions about the future of Helder Costa, someone who was in and out of Bielsa’s line-up last season.
“Sources in Spain have told The Athletic that La Liga clubs are monitoring Costa, Valencia included. Again, no formal bids have been received.”
Get rid
Costa has had two seasons to impress at Elland Road and to put it simply, he hasn’t done that.
In the Championship, he had decent spells but he was nowhere near as good as he was during his time at Wolves in the second-tier.
The Portuguese winger was perhaps the most disappointing player we had last term so once his loan deal was up and the £16million permanent option was triggered [BBC Sport], it was very frustrating for fans.
Leeds wasted a lot of money on Costa and it’s crazy to think that Raphinha only cost a little bit more and he was one of the best wingers in the Premier League last season.
In total, Costa has made 69 appearances in all competitions for Leeds, scored eight goals and supplied 11 assists.
For someone who started a lot in the Championship and also had plenty of chances last season in the Premier League, his numbers haven’t been good enough.
Ahead of the upcoming season, we only see a spot for the ex-Wolves winger in Bielsa’s line-up if there is an injury, a suspension or he wants to rotate the squad for cup matches.
Costa could get us some decent money based on how much we spent on him and if an offer does come in from Spain, Victor Orta and Bielsa should really consider it.
In other Leeds United news, Orta held a meeting in a restaurant with a player he wants to sign for Bielsa’s senior squad.