Marcelo Bielsa wants Vurnon Anita to leave Leeds United this summer, according to a report by Football Insider.
The Argentine is thought to have frozen out the former Holland international from his plans despite the 30-year-old’s return to the club.
It is said that there is some disappointment at Elland Road that a permanent move for Anita had not already been secured by now as the deadline in the English transfer window fast approaches.
It is hardly a surprise that Bielsa does not want Anita in his squad moving forward as the Dutchman has only ever played a bit-part role for the club since joining them two years ago.
After making just 22 appearances during his two-year spell at the club (Transfermarkt) under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom combined, the Argentine manager sent him out on loan to Willem II last summer.
Anita also admitted to Dutch press that his time at Elland Road had felt like a “dead-end” and that he did not want to remain with Leeds if Bielsa had no plans for him moving forward.
However, it seems he could not reach an agreement with Panathinaikos this summer in regards to finally ending his Yorkshire nightmare, as he was subsequently linked with a move to the Greek outfit by SDNA last month.
Although a hugely versatile figure, as the 30-year-old can play as either a defensive midfielder or as a full-back on either flank (WhoScored), it would be difficult to see him replace what Bielsa already has available in those areas of the pitch, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Barry Douglas, Ezgjan Alioski and Luke Ayling all options (Transfermarkt).
It will have been annoying for Leeds and Bielsa considering they appeared close to finally offloading Anita for good this summer before he made a return to the club after talks fell through.
With him not playing a role for the manager last season, it would have been difficult for the Argentine to find him a place in his side moving forward and is hardly surprising that he continues to deem him surplus to requirements at Elland Road.
With other transfer windows across the world remaining open beyond England’s, there is still a chance that the Whites will be able to finally wave goodbye to their midfield misfit.
Leeds fans, do you think the club can offload Anita before the end of the summer? Let us know your thoughts below in the comments section!
