Leeds United were ‘constantly talking’ to £30m star, now he’s a regular under Marcelo Bielsa

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This summer, Leeds United could be linked with players worth in the region of £30m if the club do win promotion to the Premier League – just like they were during Marcelo Bielsa’s reign.

Even more so after Bielsa had guided a mediocre Championship-level squad to a whopping ninth in the Premier League, along with a few new signings here and there. Bielsa did not make enormous changes.

The side that finished ninth still had Championship stars Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Jack Harrison, Mateusz Klich and Patrick Bamford playing week in, week out for the Argentine.

It is astounding, something that has not been done or can be compared to for a while. But after that first season, Leeds needed signings and only brought in Dan James and Junior Firpo in the summer of 2021.

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Leeds were in constant talks to sign £30m Nahitan Nandez

At the time, Corriere Dello Sport said Nandez and Leeds were close to agreeing a £30m deal to take the versatile midfielder to Elland Road. A move that might have saved Bielsa from earning the Leeds sack.

But a move did not materialise and speaking in 2023, the Cagliari icon – who now plays for Al-Qadsiyah in Saudi Arabia – said he was in talks. In fact, Nandez said he was constantly talking to Leeds about a deal.

“When the new coaching staff took over, they called me often. It made me very happy,” Nandez said. “When I almost left Cagliari, one of the possibilities was the team where Marcelo was (at the time).”

Now, Marcelo Bielsa has got his wish but not in Leeds colours

Nandez would have been a sensational signing. The perfect Bielsa-type player; dogged, determined, hard-working, incredibly versatile and enormous technical quality often established with South America.

A leader with Cagliari, Nandez can play right-back, centre-back, holding midfield, box-to-box or even as an 8. But Nandez never joined Leeds and Bielsa got the sack in February 2022, no chance of a £30m deal.

However, Bielsa did finally get his wish when he became manager of Uruguay – selecting Nandez in 16 of his 25 uruguay matches. Whether Nandez returns to Europe remains to be seen after moving to Saudi.