If the name ’Philippe Clement’ feels oddly familiar to Leeds United supporters, then that’s probably because the now-Monaco boss spent much of the last 18 months discussing reports linking his former Club Brugge talisman Noa Lang with a big-money move to Elland Road.
“I think it would be best if (Lang) stayed here for another year,” Clement said back in 2021; succeeding where Erik ten Hag failed while coaxing that mercurial talent out of one of Europe’s most enigmatic attackers.
“It is super important to Noa that you are open and honest with him. That also means being firm and clear. He is eager and wants to learn but, even more than with others, the basis for him must be that there is trust,” Clement added, highlighting the expert man-management that earned the one-time Coventry City defender his big break at Monaco.
“If Noa feels he has (trust), then he gives back the best of himself. If not, he will build a wall. Noa needs a little more attention than some of the others.”
Marcelo Bielsa did not want Noa Lang at Leeds
To the disappointment of many at Elland Road, Marcelo Bielsa – unlike Clement – appeared to have little interest in taking a chance on Lang when the opportunity arose in January 2022. Leeds, The Athletic say, were left rather frustrated when it emerged that Bielsa had reservations about bringing in a player who had been bombed out of Ajax by Ten Hag, Victor Orta and co having done so much of the early groundwork.
Bielsa, of course, would lose his job just a few weeks later. We’ll never know if Lang could have helped prolong the Argentine’s Elland Road reign. But a tally of nine goals and 15 assists from his attacking midfield role last season is proof that, with Lang, the rough is often worth accepting in return for the smooth.
“(Leeds’ interest) was concrete, yes,” the £25 million-rated Dutch international told HLN. “Leeds made three offers. We even negotiated. They flew to the Netherlands (to hold talks with me).”
Who will be Leeds’ new manager?
Lang, it seems, was not the only one who caught Leeds’ eye during those scouting missions in Belgium. Leeds, De Telegraaf say, have now made an offer for Clement himself; their pursuit of a new head coach limping on, a week after Jesse Marsch’s sacking.
And if Clement is to arrive at Elland Road, few would be surprised to see Lang follow. Presuming Leeds can dodge the drop, of course. According to Give Me Sports’ Dean Jones, Leeds’ admiration for Lang remains; the diminutive 23-year-old ‘very aware’ of their interest.
If Bielsa was unwilling to take a chance on Lang, then one suspects Clement would be a lot more receptive to the idea. In fact, with 18 months left on his contract at a Monaco side sitting third in Ligue 1, Clement feels substantially more unattainable – at this stage – than Lang does.
Whoever takes over at Elland Road – be it Clement, Andoni Iraola or another – may be tempted to bring a few familiar faces with him. Like Marsch did when raiding Red Bull Salzburg for Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristiansen.
And Lang, if not at the top of Clement’s shopping list, would surely be on there somewhere.
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