Marcelo Bielsa is willing to offer Chelsea contract-rebel Lewis Bate an immediate first-team role at Leeds United as he edges ever closer to Elland Road, as reported by The Sun (21 July, page 51).
While reports suggesting that one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents is on his way to West Yorkshire have certainly caught the eye, this would not be the first time Leeds have snapped up a coveted teenager during the Andrea Radrizzani era.
Leeds actually paid £3 million to sign 18-year-old Sam Greenwood from Arsenal in the summer of 2020.
Joe Gelhardt, Sean McGurk and Charlie Allen were also wanted by other clubs before deciding that Thorp Arch was the place to be.
And who can blame them, really?
We have just seen Kalvin Phillips, a middle-of-the-road Championship player three years ago, help drag England to a major tournament final for the first time since 1966.
Luke Ayling, Patrick Bamford, Pascal Struijk, Ilan Meslier, Mateusz Klich and more have also become proven Premier League stars under the managerial wizard that is Marcelo Bielsa.
Is Lewis Bate going to swap Chelsea for Leeds United?
According to The Mail, The Whites are expected to beat West Ham and Southampton to Bate’s signature, with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool also choking on Leeds’ dust.
The chance to work under a coach like Bielsa obviously appeals to Bate, an 18-year-old midfielder blessed with supreme technical gifts.
Some at Chelsea believe he is an even bigger talent than Billy Gilmour (Athletic).
Bate has not yet made a single Premier League appearance, but that could soon change if he swaps West London for West Yorkshire. According to The Sun, Bielsa sees the London-born wonder-kid as someone capable of immediately stepping into the first-team picture and competing with Klich and co for a starting berth.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
