Marcelo Bielsa has wanted Juan Foyth since his spell at Ligue 1 outfit Lille amid speculation linking the Tottenham Hotspur defender with Leeds United, coach Gabriel Macaya has told CieloSports.
While it is fair to say Victor Orta has a rather mixed record in the transfer market, Leeds’ director of football pulled off perhaps the most inspired bit of business anywhere in England when he replaced the departing Pontus Jansson with a fresh-faced youngster in the shape of Ben White last summer.
The Brighton loanee has been so impressive that, according to Sky, he is now a target for Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Even if Leeds do secure a return to the Premier League at long last, it feels all-but inevitable that Orta will soon be under pressure to replace a talismanic centre-half for the second year running.
But could Foyth step into the void?
The Argentina international has a firm admirer in the shape of compatriot Bielsa with Cielo Sports claiming that the West Yorkshire giants could come to the rescue of an £8 million man who has tumbled down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.
According to a man who worked alongside Bielsa at Lille, this is not the first time an enigmatic tactician has showed an interest in Foyth.
“I had to watch him when he played at Estudiantes, and he was very close to coming to France with us (in 2017),” Macaya says.
“Eventually it did not happen, since Foyth chose the Premier League over Ligue 1.”
Speaking to talkSPORT recently, Foyth’s agent admitted that a move away from Tottenham was likely after a season in which he has played just 67 minutes of top-flight football.
While Mourinho may not be a fan, Bielsa is renowned for his preference for players with a fine passing range and the ability to play in a variety of positions – like Foyth, for that matter.
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