According to The Times, Leeds United have held talks with Pedro Martins about potentially becoming their new manager.
Martins’ arrival at Leeds would be exciting for a number of reasons. After all, he has won three league titles with Olympiacos in recent years.
As with any new manager, it is interesting to ponder which signings will follow a new manager to a club, and, in our view, there is one signing that would make the world of sense if Leeds brought Martins in.
Leeds’ pursuit of Pedro Martins as their new manager could well be a catalyst for the club to target Kostas Tsimikas in the summer transfer window.
Signing Tsimikas would make sense for Leeds, as the club has struggled to find a consistent and reliable option at left-back this season. The versatile Pascal Struijk has been deployed there, but he is a natural centre-back, while Junior Firpo has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since arriving last summer.
Tsimikas, on the other hand, has already proven himself in the league with Liverpool, he’s won a number of trophies with the Reds and has earned high praise from Jurgen Klopp.
He is a quick, energetic and attack-minded full-back. His pace, overlapping runs and fantastic delivery from wide areas would complement Martins’ attacking style of play very well.
Furthermore, the 52-year-old’s influence could be crucial in convincing Tsimikas to make the move to Leeds. The left-back has struggled for gametime at Liverpool and may be open to a move where he can get regular minutes.
The prospect of working under a manager who knows him well and has a good relationship with him could make the move all the more appealing.
Martins has made no secret about how much he loves Tsimikas, stating that he was ‘not happy’ when he lost the left-back to Liverpool.
“I’m not happy that I have lost such a good player, but I am happy for Kostas. I spoke with him after he signed his contract, and he was so happy. This is one of his dreams,” Martins said after Tsimikas left Olympiacos.
“He’s a fighter, who plays with passion. He is a strong personality, very strong mentally.
“He’s available to learn. I know that Klopp will find that, he will listen with his full attention. He wants to improve, and he’s a good professional. He knows he will have to work hard to play. He knows that.”
A move for Kostas Tsimikas would make so much sense for Leeds if they were to hire Pedro Martins as their new manager. With Leeds needing to address their left-back situation, Tsimikas could be the perfect solution.
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