WHELAN WANTS BIELSA TO SHOP SMART
NOELWHELAN has told his old club Leeds United to splash the cash in the right way as they gear up for their top-flight return. The Yorkshire side will play Premier League football for the first time in 16 years next season after Marcelo Bielsa guided them to the Championship title.
Promotion is worth at least £170million andwhelan predicts Italian majority owner Andrea Radrizzani will fund a spending spree to back his Argentine head coach.
Bielsa has been linked with moves for striker Edinson Cavani, Gent forward Jonathan David and £20million-rated QPR hitman Eberechi Eze.
Whelan, who played for his hometown club between 1993 and 1995, said: “This current Leeds United squad has done a fantastic job, but you can look at it two ways.
“Astonvilla spent £130m when they went up, but bought the wrong players and nearly went down.
“Norwich spent next to nothing and got relegated whereas Sheffield United kept the nucleus of the side together and added the right characters.
“They have spent a bit of money, but not too much. It has all been about keeping the squad togetherness and I think Leeds need to do something similar.”
Bielsa’s side were rarely out of the top two all season and finished 10 points clear ofwest Brom.
Whelan thinks many of the current squad will prove to be of Premier League standard.
“I believe there are a lot of players at Leeds who can handle the top flight,” he said. “But they’re going to have to spend a lot of money down the spine.
“Pablo Hernandez has been brilliant but he’s 35.
“We’re going to need a number 10 and another striker. Patrick
Bamford deserves his chance next season but he’s the only recognised striker at the club and has never been prolific.
“That said, he has looked the fittest, strongest and most aggressive I have seen him.”
Whelan added: “For the whole city, for every fan who has spent their cash and followed the club during these 16 years – three of which were in
League One, remember
– going back to the
Premier
League is reward for them.”