Leeds United’s first season in the Premier League was full of excitement as the Whites proved that they’re here to stay by ending the campaign as the league’s form team – eventually finishing in a highly respectable ninth place.
But if they want to keep progressing under the Marcelo Bielsa revolution, they’re going to have to be ruthless in terms of recruitment which will of course involving getting rid of the dead wood. It has been intriguing to see which players have been able to cut it in the top flight and which haven’t, with many supporters split on keeping certain personnel.
We at the Leeds Press have looked in detail at which players will depart this summer and while some may seem obvious, others are at a crossroads in their Elland Road careers. We’re going to focus in particular on those that have been in first-team contention throughout the 2020/21 season as they of course will be the main topic of discussion regarding their futures at the club.
Gjanni Alisoki
We first look at winger-turned-left-back Gjanni Alioski. The Macedonian’s future at Elland Road still hangs in the balance after another very respectable season from one of the club’s most colourful characters. It has been widely reported that Alioski will leave on a free transfer this but murmors coming out of Thorpe Arch recently have suggested that the player and club may have had a change of heart following a strong end to the campaign. Nobody can ever doubt Alioski’s effort throughout his Leeds career, often switching positions and adopting his ‘Duracell Bunny’ nickname due to his tireless workrate and energy each and every match. But, as mentioned at the start, the Leeds hierarchy have to be ruthless and if we are honest then Gjanni falls slightly below the current level of each regular starter under Marcelo Bielsa. Signed as a winger on a four-year contract in 2017 from FC Lugano, Alioski was unknown but he quickly made his mark. As time has progressed and things have changed at Elland Road, so has Alioski’s position. Jack Harrison and Helder Costa proved to be greater assets on the wing with their ability to get past a man, forcing Gjanni out of the team originally before Bielsa found a spot for him at left-back. It is a position he kept through the Whites’ Championship-winning campaign and into the Premier League. But while Alioski has remained an ever-present in the side this season, even notching a few goals with his ability to get up and down the pitch, his defensive inculpabilities have been highlighted on a number of occasions. Leeds have made it clear they need better in the full-back if they’re to reach the next level and while Alioski will leave with fond memories and cult hero status among the Elland Road faithful, a natural top-flight left-back will allow Leeds to keep pushing forward and improving ahead of their second season back in the Premier League.
Helder Costa
There is no doubting Helder Costa’s ability, but just like at Wolves there remains huge doubts around his consistency. In fact, it’s now fairly certain that inconsistency is something that comes with Costa and while he may have got away with this in the Championship, the Premier League has again proved to be a level too far for the winger. A regular starter for Bielsa in the promotion-winning campaign, the £15 million signing from Wolves has been demoted to the bench since the arrival of Raphinha. The evolution of United’s wingers is quite a progressive one really with Costa taking Alioski’s spot before Raphinha did the exact same thing to Costa. The Brazilian has shown him up in many ways since joining at the start of the season, providing all the skill, speed and quality Leeds fans were hoping to see on a regular basis from Costa. It’s a question of when not if Helder leaves and don’t be surprised if that is some time in the next few weeks. Despite his 22 appearances last campaign and the obvious need for backup, Costa is on high wages and as the rumours of Dan James continue to swirl around again, the arrival of the Manchester United winger would almost certainly result in Helder leaving West Yorkshire to return overseas.
Helder Costa (right) could be one of those to leave Leeds this summer.
Mateusz Klich
This may raise a few eyebrows, but those that have watched every Leeds game in detail this season will know that things haven’t quite clicked for Klich this season. The days of him banging them in from 40 yards or 50 yards everywhere he goes seem to be long gone and he has been a main source of frustration this season from fans, especially in the 6-2 hammering against Manchester United when he twice failed to track his man. Those momentary lapses have not just been limited to one game unfortunately and there is a strong feeling that Leeds need a more mobile and creative player in the middle of the pitch. In a recent poll United’s fans decided that Klich should no longer be a regular starter with Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas and Rodrigo the preferred midfield spine of Bielsa’s team. It’s surprising to be saying this, especially given the miraculous turnaround in Klich’s Elland Road career when Bielsa came through the door, but the Polish international only found the net four times in 35 appearances this season and looked way off the pace compared to his incredible previous two seasons in the Championship. Whether his legs have gone or the pace of the Premier Leagie is just too much for him is a topic up for discussion, but Mateusz is now 31 and whilst he may stay as depth for another couple seasons, his time as a key player at Leeds has ended and his Whites career as a whole may follow the same path if an attractive offer comes in for him during the transfer window.
