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Tom Coates

Every signing made during Marcelo Bielsa reign who made a first-team appearance for Leeds United

The transfer business conducted by Leeds United throughout the reign of Marcelo Bielsa has been placed under a microscope since his departure.

Failure to strengthen in the January window has been cited by many as a reason for the downfall of a side that currently look a shell of their former self.

In particular, not bolstering in midfield and relying on Adam Forshaw hitting the ground running after recovering from injury has been scrutinised by supporters.

Go here for all the latest Leeds United news and opinion

Even members of the Leeds board would most likely admit the club have had mixed success on the transfer front since 2018.

There have been some incredibly shrewd additions but there have also been some recruits that have left onlookers scratching their heads and pondering the logic behind the move.

LeedsLive has reflected on every signing made during the Bielsa era that has featured in the first-team.

2018/19:

Leif Davis

It could be argued Davis was a casualty of promotion to the Premier League, as he was showing glimpses of potential in the Championship before the Whites went up.

He was sent out on loan to Bournemouth last summer and the deal includes an option make the move permanent.

The 22-year-old was far from a disastrous addition but the aforementioned option in the loan agreement suggests his days at Elland Road could be numbered.

Barry Douglas

A high-profile addition in the summer of 2018, Douglas failed to replicate the form he had shown when Wolves romped to the Championship title in 2017.

Injuries hampered his stay in West Yorkshire but he still managed 15 league appearances in the promotion-winning 2019/20 campaign.

Patrick Bamford

Although a divisive figure in the Championship, Bamford cemented himself as Bielsa's first-choice forward in the Premier League and even won a call-up to the England senior side.

His struggles with injury this season have damaged Leeds considerably, demonstrating his importance to the side.

The reported £7m fee was money well spent.

Kiko Casilla

Considered a coup considering his experience when he arrived in January 2019, it did not work out for Casilla at Elland Road.

His time at the club was blighted by errors and an eight-match ban in February 2020, which was awarded when he was found guilty of racially abusing Charlton Athletic's Jonathan Leko.

Matuesz Bogusz

The Polish playmaker was used sparsely before being sent out on loan to Logrones and then Ibiza in Spain.

The 20-year-old showed promise but could not force his way into Bielsa's plans and it remains to be seen whether he has a future at Elland Road when he returns from an injury picked up out on loan.

Lewis Baker

Leeds have not had much luck with loanees from Chelsea and Baker struggled to make an impact during his spell under Bielsa.

He was recalled by his parent club in January 2019 and sent to Reading on a temporary basis.

Jamal Blackman

Like Baker, Blackman joined Leeds on loan from Chelsea but also had his spell cut short.

The reason for the premature end to Blackman's stay was an injury sustained on under-23s duty for the Whites, which came at an unfortunate time as Bielsa admitted he was planning to give him his league debut.

Jack Harrison

Harrison did not instantly win over Leeds supporters and took time to adapt to life at Leeds but is now a permanent member of the squad after three loan spells at Elland Road.

He has not yet become the consistent performer he has threatened to be but is a regular fixture in the first-team.

Izzy Brown

Another unsuccessful loanee from Chelsea, Brown was injured for the bulk of his time at Leeds and managed just two first-team appearances for the club.

It is not particularly surprising that the Blues have not sent any prospects to Leeds since the 2018/19 campaign.

2019/20:

Stuart McKinstry

McKinstry is still only 19 but has already tasted first-team football at Elland Road.

A reliable performer at under-23 level, he will be hoping to make an impact under Bielsa's successor and earn more senior opportunities.

Liam McCarron

Like McKinstry, McCarron has not yet achieved first-team regular status but has been knocking on the door.

It remains to be seen whether he will make the step up but he has impressed at under-23 level for the Whites.

Ian Poveda

Used mostly as an impact substitute in both the Championship and Premier League, Poveda was given a chance to impress out on loan at Blackburn Rovers this season.

Injury, however, has left him sidelined and he now faces a fight for both fitness and a long-term future at Elland Road.

Ben White

Leeds struck gold when they lured White to West Yorkshire.

During his season on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, he was arguably the Championship's most impressive centre-back and played a starring role in the title triumph.

Jack Clarke

Clarke returned to Leeds on loan after joining Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent basis but his impact at Elland Road waned.

His loan was eventually terminated and he has since spent time on loan at Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City, but did not set the world alight with either and is now in League One with Sunderland.

Helder Costa

Although undoubtedly talented, Costa never quite hit the heights expected of him when joined on an initial loan move in 2019.

Even after his deal was made permanent, the winger struggled to contribute consistently and was sent out on loan to Valencia for the 2021/22 campaign.

Illan Meslier

Signing teenage goalkeepers on loan rarely sets pulses racing but Meslier's stock has risen rapidly at Elland Road.

His move was made permanent a year later and he is now comfortable as the club's number one between the sticks.

Eddie Nketiah

Nketiah was often bright as a substitute but he managed just two league starts for the club during his loan spell before returnong to Arsenal.

Although not disastrous, he failed to dislodge Bamford as Bielsa's first-choice forward and scored just three league goals in a Leed shirt.

Jean-Kevin Augustin

With Nketiah back at Arsenal, Leeds needed depth in the forward department.

Augustin arrived with an impressive CV but featured on just three occasions before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and he was not seen again after the resumption of the 2019/20 campaign.

2020/21:

Joe Gelhardt

Plucked from Wigan Athletic when the Latics were selling several assets, Gelhardt is arguably the club's most exciting young prodigy.

Since being introduced to the first-team fold, he has impressed with his direct running and flair and looks set to enjoy a bright future.

Cody Drameh

The right-back was a standout performer at under-23 level before being awarded a handful of first-team appearances in the first half of the current campaign.

He is currently earning plaudits on loan at Cardiff City in the Championship having joined the Bluebirds on loan in January.

Sam Greenwood

Another promising young prospect, Greenwood has also tasted first-team action but not yet established himself as a regular at the club.

He has just returned from injury and is expected to make a comeback with the under-23s.

Rodrigo

The Spaniard came at a hefty cost but has not been quite as prolific as many expected.

The 30-year-old recently made his 50th appearance for the Whites though and is rarely absent if fit and available.

Robin Koch

Koch has struggled to remain fit since joining Leeds but has proven to be a composed presence in defence when available.

The Germany international returned to action after a lengthy lay-off just before Christmas and has featured in every league except the defeat to Liverpool since.

Crysencio Summerville

The winger has moved to the fringes of the first-team following a series of electric displays on the flank for Mark Jackson's under-23 side.

He was linked with a loan move away from the club in January but remained and will be available to Bielsa's heir for the run-in.

Diego Llorente

Llorente has struggled for form recently but has shown himself to be capable of cutting it in the Premier League.

Like Koch, he has battled with injury, but is currently fit and will most likely feature heavily as the latter stages of the current campaign approach.

Raphinha

The winger was reportedly signed for a fee worth £17m and his form since arriving in Yorkshire has made the deal look a bargain.

A dangerous threat on the flank, the Brazilian has terrorised a lengthy list of Premier League defenders and established himself as a crucial asset for the club.

2021/22:

Junior Firpo

He made a sluggish start to life at Leeds and although he has shown improvement since, is still searching for consistency.

It is too early to write the 25-year-old off but he will need to show more to convince supporters of his value to the side.

Lewis Bate

The midfielder was plucked from Chelsea in the summer and now features regularly on the first-team bench, even if his appearances have been few and far between.

At 19, Bate has plenty of time to prove his worth at Elland Road.

Leo Hjelde

The Norway youth international has been reliable when called upon at first-team level and has shone for the under-23s in the Premier League 2 Division Two.

He has helped soften the blow of the injury crisis in defence and looks well-placed for more opportunities in the future.

Daniel James

Leeds finally secured their signature of their long-term target on the final day of the summer transfer window last year.

He has been far from Leeds' worst performer in a trying campaign and has shown commitment to the cause whilst operating as a makeshift forward in the absence of Bamford.

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