Leeds United will look to mount another promotion challenge under manager Marcelo Bielsa, and will need to sign more quality players to ensure they don’t fall towards the final stages like they did last season.
Bielsa has already Wolves winger Helder Costa is currently on Leeds’ radar, and he is close to signing for the Whites.
Costa is expected to join Leeds, and the side will have an option to sign him on a permanent deal as well. Should they get promoted, Leeds will be obliged to sign him permanently, as per the BBC.
Leeds have already confirmed the signings of Jack Harrison, who returns for another spell at Leeds, as well as Brighton defender Ben White. Jack Clarke will also spend another year on loan at Leeds after he signed with Tottenham.
Costa had joined Wolves in 2016 from Benfica, initially on loan, and then moved permanently for a fee of around £13 million.
The Portuguese winger put in very good performances in the first two seasons, helping the club in the promotion success, but fell out of favour in Wolves’ first season back in the Premier League.
Who will Helder Costa replace in the team?
Costa is a left-footed winger who primarily plays on the right-wing. The Portuguese international is the quintessential inverted winger, a player who likes to cut into the central areas, while also switching the ball to his favoured left foot to whip in crosses for teammates to attack.
Costa likes to dribble, take on defenders, play one-twos with his teammates to advance to dangerous positions in the opposition’s box, and is a pretty good player when it comes to link-up play, something that will hold him in good stead under Bielsa.
The 25-year-old played 30 times for Wolves in the 2019-20 season, scoring 2 goals and making 2 assists.
Pablo Hernandez had a fantastic season on the right side of Leeds’ attack last season, but the 34-year-old may possibly not be able to cope with the rigours of the Championship schedule week-in week-out, which means that Bielsa needs another quality option.
Costa can also play on the left side, thus providing another additional option for Bielsa.
The attacker will add depth and quality to the Leeds United squad, which was missing last season as they fell agonisingly short in the playoffs.
Image courtesy: Wolves.co.uk