Marcelo Bielsa is reportedly set to build his Leeds United team around Diego Llorente next season following a string of impressive performances.

The Whites produced an astonishing display at the weekend, winning 2-1 away to Premier League leaders Manchester City despite having 10 men for the entire second half. Leeds were colossal in defence throughout, seeing off endless City attacks before Stuart Dallas' last-gasp winner sealed a special victory.

Llorente was superb at the heart of his team's defence, making two interceptions and five recoveries as he played a big role in the win.

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Bielsa to build Leeds side ar0und Llorente

According to Football Insider, Bielsa is so impressed with the centre-back's performances that he sees him as the focal point of his plans moving forward.

Leeds' staff also think that Llorente is a "phenomenal" player, having found his form as the season has progressed following his move from Real Sociedad last September. All but one of his Premier League starts this season have come in the last two months, while his performance in Saturday drew the highest WhoScored rating he has achieved so far in 2020/21.

Transfer Tavern take

Llorente has really grown in recent weeks and is fully deserving of the faith being shown in him by Bielsa, standing out as a dominant performer for Leeds.  As can often be the case with foreign players, he took a little time to settle in England, but he is now looking an excellent signing.

Llorente has won seven caps for Spain, which speaks for itself, and at 27 years of age, he could be coming into the peak years of his career. That, allied with his ever-improving form, makes it entirely understandable why Bielsa is seemingly set to make him a bedrock of the Whites' plans from hereon.

In other news, Phil Hay has explained the absence of one key Leeds player against Manchester City. Find out who it is here.