Noel Whelan says Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is ‘down to the bare bones’ and needs new players from Andrea Radrizzani.
Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani must make money available for January reinforcements.
The Whites slumped to a second successive Championship defeat after losing 4-2 away to Nottingham Forest.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side had led 2-1 midway through the second half, despite having Kalvin Phillips sent off before the break, but Forrest scored three times to turn the game on its head.
The Argentine was forced to play Phillips in central defence due to injuries to Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi, while Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford – who scored the winner at Bolton Wanderers last month – are also unavailable through injury.
Despite their erratic form and injury list, Bielsa’s side remain top of the Championship and two points clear of second-placed Norwich City, but Whelan told BBC Radio Leeds that the Italian supremo needs to get the chequebook out now.
The former Whites hitman said: “If you spend a little bit of money that could be the difference. I hope the chairman does realise what the manager is working with. He’s down to the bare bones.
“Even if we had a fully-fit squad of 22 players for him [Bielsa] to choose from then I still think we need players.”
Leeds have been magnificent this season and what a shame it would be if it didn’t result in winning promotion back to the Premier League, after a 15-year absence.
But Whelan is right. What Radrizzani does this month – or doesn’t do – might have huge implications further down the season.
Financially it makes sense total sense for United to just go for it and spend a fair bit of money this month, double down on their chances of reaching the Premier League in the belief that the windfall from getting there makes it very worthwhile.
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