Bielsa anger over Championship striker shows transfer approach for Leeds

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Leeds manager will want players who are keen on the club, and won’t be going out on a limb to persuade players.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is quite a maverick and his first moves at Elland Road are very unpredictable.

One thing he is unlikely to change is his attitude, particularly when it comes to signing players.

Last summer at Lille, Bielsa did not try very hard to sign Wilfried Bony, who he had been told was available.

He held a discussion with Bony, and explained that he had been angered over the striker’s lack of desire to play for Lille.

He was quoted by Tribal Footbal that he spoke to Bony because he was pushed to by Lille, not because he had any desire to.

He said: “I do not like to do this because for me the desire to belong to a club must be greater than a club’s desire to have a player.

“But I did it within the time I was given and Bony chose to go to another club.”

Bony joined former club Swansea, who were relegated, and Bielsa will be opposing him in the Championship next season.

Bielsa’s comments show that he will want players who have a great desire to play for him and Leeds United, and won’t fight to persuade those who are not interested.

That is ultimately likely to be a positive for the Whites, if they can sign players who are committed to their cause before they even put pen to paper on a contract.