It was inevitable, really. Marcelo Bielsa has been touted as the potential successor to Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur by two Spurs-supporting pundits since the Portuguese gaffer was given his marching orders by Daniel Levy – six days before the Carabao Cup final. But somewhat surprisingly, ex-Spurs striker Darren Bent has rubbished the chances of Bielsa leaving Leeds for the London club on TalkSPORT this morning.
Bielsa, 65, is out of contract this summer and to pundits that do not know how the Argentine works – it looks as if there is a chance he could leave Elland Road in the coming months. But to those that do their research, they know that Bielsa signs a new deal every summer for the next 12 months – and that is the way he works. If he wants to stay, that is when he will sign a new deal at Leeds. He has already stated he sees his future in Yorkshire.
But for Leeds fans, pundits suggesting he could go, or he could join another club given the apparent uncertainty surrounding his contract have become the norm. Both Jamie O’Hara and Tim Sherwood have spoke this week – on TalkSPORT and Optus Sport’s Kelly and Wrighty Show respectively – that they would choose Bielsa as the man to replace Mourinho and lead Spurs forward. A compliment to Bielsa, but there is no chance he is leaving Leeds.
O’Hara told TalkSPORT: “I would say Bielsa. I think he’d be absolutely brilliant and the fans would love him. If you can try and prise him away form there it’d be unbelievable,” while Sherwood told The Kelly and Wrighty Show: “I would pick Bielsa. He is a big manager, everyone would love him at Spurs – not sure Daniel Levy would. Daniel likes communication, not sure they would communicate too well.”
But in a surprising, and differing view, Bent has clearly done some research on Leeds by stating that there is no chance Bielsa leaves Elland Road this summer – when proposed with the possibility of the Argentine departing Elland Road and moving south to the capital. He explains that Leeds have a project ongoing, and having only gained promotion back to the Premier League from the Championship, he asked – why would he leave?
“Bielsa has been mentioned, but he isn’t going to leave Leeds. They have a project going on, they have just gained promotion, he isn’t going anywhere. I love watching them play,” Bent said, on TalkSPORT (Tuesday, 8.15AM).
