'Hope isn't dead' that key Leeds man will stay at Elland Road

Leeds may still believe that they can get Marcelo Bielsa to sign a new contract at the club, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Bielsa has enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Elland Road since arriving in England in 2018, but his future is up in the air at the moment.

Bielsa tends to only sign one-year contract extensions at the clubs that he manages, meaning that his current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.

In the past, it has appeared a formality that he would commit to another year at Leeds given how well they have progressed during his time in charge.

However, his side have struggled this season, and find themselves just six points above the relegation zone.

It appears that his time at the club could be coming to an end, with it being reported that Leeds have already drawn up a list of potential replacements for the Argentine coach.

Leeds may have started planning for a future without Bielsa, but Jones thinks they have not given up on the possibility of convincing him to stay for another year.

Speaking about Bielsa’s contract situation, Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I don’t think hope is dead yet that Bielsa stays for one more year. He was always going to leave this decision late and leave them with hope that they can get him going for one more year, but it’s also far from certain.”

It is difficult to determine how Bielsa is feeling about his future at Leeds right now.

He guided Leeds to a top-half finish last term, and with ambitious clubs such as Newcastle and Aston Villa now coming through, he may feel that his chances of finishing any higher next season are slim, which could cause him to walk away in the summer.

Then again, his team have been very unfortunate with injuries in 2021/22. Patrick Bamford