Report: Leeds now facing competition for winger from Marcelo Bielsa’s former club

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Leeds United are now reportedly facing competition for Josip Brekalo from Marcelo Bielsa’s former club Lazio.

Leeds United interest

The Express reported in May interest from Leeds in Wolfsburg winger Brekalo.

Everton, Napoli and Bayern Munich were also mentioned in the report.

Lazio competition

Leeds are now reportedly facing competition from Bielsa’s former club Lazio.

According to Alfredopedulla.com, Lazio are keen on signing the 23-year-old winger in the summer transfer window.

The Croatia international, who can also operate as a forward or in a central midfield attacking role, will leave Wolfsburg this summer and will cost less than €20 million (£17.04m) and earns €2 million (£1.7m) per season.

Bielsa was in charge of Lazio for a very short period of time.

The Argentine stepped down from his role at the Italian club after just two days.

Leeds United or Lazio?

Leeds did extremely well in the Premier League last season, but Lazio will play in the Europa League in 2021-22.

The Italian club finished sixth in Serie A last season and will be aiming for the Champions League places during the upcoming campaign.

That could play a big role in the decision of 23-year-old winger Brekalo, who scored seven goals and gave three assists in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg last season.

Liam Cooper and Mateusz Klich comments

The new Premier League campaign will start next month, and Leeds duo Liam Cooper and Mateusz Klich have been looking ahed already.

While Poland international midfielder Klich has said that he wishes he had more time off following his involving in the European Championship, defender Cooper has praised his teammate Kalvin Philips for his performance for England at Euro 2020.

Leeds Live quotes Klich as saying: “The last three seasons plus the Euros have been very intense for me. I wish I had more holidays.

“There wasn’t really much time to recover after the Euros because I had to get back to Leeds. We started our pre-season which is very hard and very tough.”

Cooper told Sky Sports about Phillips: “He works so hard here (at Leeds), all the boys and the people of Leeds think the world of him and he deserves everything that comes his ways.

”I’ve seen how hard he works every single day, I see how much he takes on and turns it into his game. For me, he is one of the best midfielders in the world right now.”