Leeds are probably done with this summer's transfer business - Marcelo Bielsa - The Athletic 19/8/21

By Phil Hay and Amitai Winehouse

Marcelo Bielsa believes Leeds are probably done with their incoming transfer business for the summer window.

Leeds have made two senior signings this summer, adding Junior Firpo from Barcelona and goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson from Valarenga.

They have also added a number of young players to be used at under-23 level. These include Lewis Bate from Chelsea and Sean McGurk from Wigan.

The Athletic understands they moved for Conor Gallagher, who joined Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea, and have previously discussed a deal for Huddersfield Town’s Lewis O’Brien. Huddersfield valued O'Brien at £8 million and no fee has been agreed.

But Bielsa has now admitted Leeds, who lost 5-1 to Manchester United in their opening game of the season, are unlikely to make any more signings before the transfer deadline.

He said: “It's not probable that any more signings will be made. I'm happy with the players I can count on at the moment. It's the same group as last season with the substitution of Firpo for Alioski.

“The young players who accompany the team have another year of experience. If we have the option to bring another player in we will do it has long as that player is able to challenge the player who already has that position.

“Signings that strengthen the team means a player has to compete with players who already have a position. That means there's a very high cost to these.

“With regards to this situation, if players don't arrive there's disappointment that they don't arrive.

“If there are signings but they're below the level of the players we already have, there's disappointment because they're not up to standard.

“The situation is to find players who can overcome the players we already have at a low price. But to say a low price also means a high price. Low prices at the moment are prices which are very high. For good players, the prices are inaccessible."

He later added: “Yes we need more players but only players who are better than what we have, who we can buy. This club have invested. It's not like this club hasn't invested.

"This group last season made a contribution which means they were justifiably top half. What happens is that when you lose a big game 5-1, it generates uncertainty and the questions you ask."

Is this a surprise?

AMITAI WINEHOUSE: Not exactly. Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear has previously hinted that Leeds are unlikely to make any more signings between now and the end of the window.

They spent heavily last summer, bringing in the likes of Raphinha, Rodrigo, Diego Llorente and Robin Koch, and the plan was to frontload the spending in that window. This summer was always going to be quieter.

The addition of Firpo was the essential business they needed to carry out.

That said, they definitely wanted a central midfielder and would definitely have taken Gallagher. Leeds were genuinely disappointed to lose him to Palace.

Where could Leeds have improved?

AMITAI WINEHOUSE: Aside from left-back, the other important position was in the centre of midfield, where Leeds have eyed up Gallagher and O'Brien.

Leeds are slightly limited options-wise in the middle of the park, although they do have Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich, Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw — who is returning from a long lay-off — available.

There was also some talk that Bielsa might want to add another winger this summer.

Is this a blow for Bielsa?

AMITAI WINEHOUSE: Bielsa did not seem to be criticising Leeds for this state of play.

As a rule, the Argentine rarely questions transfer policy and always seems fairly happy to work with what he has. He prefers to work with a small and tight squad too.

One of Bielsa’s most consistent traits at Leeds United has been his insistence on continuity in the club’s first-team squad.

Season four of his tenure began on Saturday, albeit badly, and it was striking to see how little the core of his starting side has changed in that time. Eight of those who were chosen at Old Trafford played in Leeds’ promotion season in the Championship. Six were in the building when Bielsa was first appointed in 2018.

For so long, injury permitting, his team has almost chosen itself but as the Premier League gets going again, what now constitutes his best line-up? And did anything in Saturday’s defeat to Manchester United offer conclusions about the right pecking order?