From Raphinha to Daniel James: Grading Bielsa’s signings at Leeds
Paul Macdonald
- Updated: 27 Feb 2022 14:19 GMT
- 6 min read
Marcelo Bielsa's time at Leeds United has come to an end, but his stint at the club will be remembered as an extremely successful one.
He guided them to promotion from the Championship and led them to a ninth place finish in the Premier League the following season. Throughout his spell at Elland Road, he's made some excellent signings, including that of Brazilian winger Raphinha.
The 25-year-old signed from Rennes in 2020 and was undoubtedly Bielsa’s best signing during his time at the club.
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Below, we take a look at Bielsa’s main Premier League signings at Leeds and how they have performed.
2021/22
Daniel James (€29m): D
James finally got his move to Leeds one season late, but he hasn’t made the type of impact his transfer fee should merit. He has appeared better of late, performing particularly well in the 3-3 draw at Aston Villa, but James’ decision-making and considerable doubts about his all-round game beyond his blistering pace continue to pose serious questions.
Jack Harrison (€16m): C+
Harrison’s transfer after a series of loan deals from Manchester City was only finalised this summer, and though his numbers are a little down based on this time last season, where he had 16 goal contributions, he is still in Leeds’ best starting XI and on his day was a very useful creator in Bielsa’s high-octane attacking play. He will need to step up in the remainder of the season to make sure relegation is avoided.
Junior Firpo (€15m): E-
Firpo, at times, looks as if he would rather be anywhere but Leeds. He is far more comfortable on the front foot, and driving Leeds from the left, but often looks hopelessly exposed and, frankly, out of position as teams make hay down his flank. Barcelona may wonder how they landed €15m for a player who currently looks out of his depth, and doesn’t look capable of turning things around.
Kristoffer Klaesson (€2.2m): N/A
Hasn’t featured enough for the club to be given a rating as of yet.
Lewis Bate (€1.8m): N/A
He has made just one substitute appearance so far.
2020/21
Raphinha (€17m): A
It could be argued that Raphinha was Bielsa’s only unequivocal success since the side arrived back in the Premier League. Raphinha has emerged as a player with plenty of room for progression into a genuinely world class operator competing for any club, at the highest level. The big surprise will be if he’s at Elland Road next season.
Illan Meslier (€6.5m): B-
The 21-year-old’s value within the FootballTransfers algorithm has rocketed up to €37m from the initial €6.5m Leeds paid for him, and it’s testament to the quality of his performances that at just 21, he is an undisputed starter in the Premier League. Leeds are conceding a lot of goals but if it wasn’t for Meslier’s shot-stopping abilities, their goals against column may be a whole lot worse.
Rodrigo (€30m): C+
On the face of it Rodrigo may seem somewhat of a failure; he’s one of Leeds’ record signings but hasn’t filled Patrick Bamford’s boots while the England forward has been injured. But he’s rarely started in the No. 9 position, with Bielsa using him behind someone such as the aforementioned James. As such, 10 goals and three assists in just 30 starts across the last two seasons isn’t a bad return at all. While he is not a complete success, he isn’t the failure he has been painted as in some quarters.
Joe Gelhardt (€1.5m): C+
The 19-year-old wasn't quite trusted enough by Bielsa to start regularly, but has made more than his fair share of excellent cameos so far, including scoring against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and winning a late penalty at home to Wolves. It could still go either way, but Gelhardt has enough about him to suggest that he could be a very useful asset in the years to come.
Helder Costa (€15m): D
Costa was useful for the Championship promotion season but the step up was too much for him, in truth. He started just 13 Premier League games, and though he did manage three goals and three assists, he was never first choice and has spent this season on loan at Valencia, where he has barely featured for Los Che. From a Premier League perspective, not a worthwhile deal.
Diego Llorente (€20m): E
Llorente has suffered his share of injury problems since joining Leeds last season, and that hasn’t helped with his integration. But the fact is that he has started 19 of the 24 league games in a season where the team has conceded 60 goals - nobody has shipped more. He rarely looks comfortable either defending or on the ball, and his signing has not been a success by any stretch.
Robin Koch (€13m): E
Koch has had his injuries too but has also started just nine Premier League matches this season and Bielsa has never seemed clear on whether he is a centre back, or a defensive midfielder, given he has stood in for Kalvin Phillips at times in the 4-1-4-1 formation. But the fact of the matter is that in his 10 appearances this season in league and cup, Leeds have conceded 28 goals, a miserable record.
Sam Greenwood (€1.8m): N/A
Greenwood has played just 12 minutes of Premier League football and so impossible to judge what type of player he may turn out to be.
