Leeds United failed miserably in their bid for promotion last season as they changed managers on a frequent basis, finding no consistency in their game. However, they are now ready to take the next step, with Marcelo Bielsa in charge of the club for the upcoming campaign.
The Argentine tactician is right up there with the best coaches in world football at the moment and it will be important for the club to back him up in the transfer market this summer. So it does not come as a surprise that the Whites are extensively linked with some of the finest stars in the country.
However, Bielsa is also tasked with resolving the future of some of his players at the club who are struggling to get into the first team. One such player, who they have now sent out on loan is Paudie O’Connor.
Born and brought up in Limerick, Ireland, the 20-year old joined the academy at Leeds United in 2017. He was not expected to make an impact on the first team last season but made his debut alongside Pontus Jansson, late in the season, when he helped his side come back from a goal down to earn a point against Sunderland.
He started the next three games for the club, picking up two yellow cards as well, but earned high praise from the club hierarchy. He was also named the captain of the U23 squad at Elland Road and at just 20, he showed a lot of promise for the future.
The 20-year-old had trials with clubs like Crystal Palace and Leicester City before joining Leeds and at the end of the last season, it looked like he will be a regular in the first team for the side next season. However, Bielsa does not seem to have been impressed and has sent him out on loan already.
The player himself announced his move to Blackpool on a season-long loan, where he will hope to get some regular game time. He is still 20 and has a bright future ahead of him but it comes as a surprise that Bielsa was not ready to give him a chance even in his pre-season.
He did sign a two-year contract extension just last month, and will certainly get his chances at Elland Road. Bielsa might have missed a trick by letting him leave, as he could have acted as a backup to any of the positions in the backline next season.
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Having depth will be important for Leeds to achieve promotion next season and there is every chance that losing O’Connor will come back to haunt them unless the manager has a replacement for him in mind. Do you think letting the youngster leave on loan was a good move by Bielsa?
