Back in the January window, many of a Leeds persuasion were desperate for Marcelo Bielsa to bring in a player or two – given the injury crisis at Elland Road. Takumi Minamino was an option, but Bielsa turned him down.
Minamino, 27, scored a brilliant brace for Liverpool on Wednesday night to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Despite Lukas Rupp’s late goal, it was the Japan international’s brace that saw Liverpool win 2-1.
Since the January window, Minamino has been in stunning form – scoring three goals in four games for Liverpool. The Mirror report that there was interest in £20m-rated Minamino from Leeds, during the winter window.
But a move for Minamino never materialised – with Bielsa choosing not to sign him as Crysencio Summerville remained. As Leeds form struggles, Bielsa has gone and Minamino is shining – did they make a mistake?
Bielsa mistake: Leeds really needed Liverpool star in January
The ex-Salzburg playmaker would have been superb under new manager Jesse Marsch. But more importantly, Leeds lack a bit of a spark. They lack creativity in midfield. Mateusz Klich is good, but he is not Minamino.
One would argue that if Marsch had been in charge in the January window, he would have formed a reunion with Minamino. It would have given Leeds more fire power in their bid to survive relegation.
For a player that is shining on the fringes at Liverpool, if he had come to Elland Road and netted five or six goals between now and the end of the season – Leeds would have a much better chance of avoiding the drop.
But Bielsa chose to ignore his potential arrival with Summerville staying – despite the sizeable difference in quality. It was a mistake from the Argentine and now gone, Marsch will have to find an alternative source.
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