With another season in the Championship just over the horizon for Leeds United, it is of the utmost importance that they get their recruitment spot on this summer if they harbour any dreams of securing their long-awaited return to the Premier League in 2020.
Therefore, with an abundance of players set to become available for transfer between now and August, Bielsa must be proactive in the market.
By getting his business done early, the Argentine could create the foundations needed to better Leeds’ third-place finish in the Championship during the 2018/19 campaign.
However, having benefitted from giving the club’s youth players a chance to strut their stuff at Elland Road, Bielsa would arguably be taking a step backwards by targeting Stewart Downing this summer.
Released by Middlesbrough on Thursday, the 34-year-old would be available on a free if Leeds do sign him yet if they do, they may be making a serious error.
Although Downing is a very experienced operator at Championship level, when you consider that he only managed to score two goals and provide one assist for the Smoggies last season, it is not guaranteed that he will be able to make the impact required at Elland Road.
Reacting to the possibility of the winger making the switch to West Yorkshire, loads of Leeds fans took to Twitter to warn their club about the risks of bringing in the former England international.
Absolutely not
Need pace on the wing, not that slug— Bielsa Ball (@BallBielsa) May 30, 2019
Behave if you asked 10 years ago then yes
— Reece James (@Reecejamesred7) May 30, 2019
Absolutely not. He wasn’t even that good in his prime.
— (@LeedsUnited2019) May 30, 2019
He’s leaving Boro on a free…..that tells it’s own story, even Harrison is better
— Andy Firth (@AndrewFirth21) May 30, 2019
No.Past it!
— Liam Griffin (@liamgriffin36) May 30, 2019
No more boro rejects needed in our side
— SambukaforViduka (@The_Duke_No9) May 30, 2019
Won’t have the legs for how we play. Too old and slow for the level we need.
— Ben Doughty (@bendoughty22) May 30, 2019
I’d be interested in him not coming anywhere near Elland Road
— Super_Leeds_MOT (@SuperLeedsUtd5) May 30, 2019
Nope! Had his day but somebody forgot to tell him that, think he would disrupt the dressing room and all the hard work over the last season.
— james nuttall (@jimmyvercetti) May 31, 2019
Instead of wasting their time focusing on Downing, the Whites could find more joy from bringing in an exciting young prospect on loan from the Premier League.
