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Everyone knows by now that Marcelo Bielsa does things his way,
and if you're not on board, then you're not along for the ride.
With relegation to the Championship secured for West Brom, Sheffield
United, and Fulham, it means we're safe for another season. Still, the club needs to take the bull by the horns if it has
any ambitions of remaining in the Premier League for the long
term. To do that, Bielsa is going to have to strengthen the squad
and, surprisingly, the Championship might be the place he begins
his search. England's second division has proved it has uncut gems that are
ready for the big leagues, with Brentford unearthing quite a few
in the last couple of years. Not only has Ollie Watkins made an
impression on the EPL, but so has West Ham's Said Benhrama. In
Ivan Toney, the league's top goalscorer, it appears they have
another quality marksman who is ready to make the step up. More excitingly, Brentford's chances of securing promotion aren't
guaranteed, with an update
on Championship odds revealing that The Bees are 17/10 to
be promoted to the play-offs. Bournemouth are 9/2, however, and
have a fantastic chance of making it to the final. If Brentford
do head to the Holy Land, there are cheaper options available
as the preseason Championship
relegation odds picks like Rotherham were full of individual
quality, including players like Chiedozie Ogbene. The tricky winger
is a typical Bielsa player with bags of skill and energy, and
a desire to work hard for the team. Last season wasn't his best because he was injured and didn't
play often, but the campaign before forced manager Paul Warne
to describe him as unplayable. Even if he didn't play often, Ogbene
wouldn't cost a fortune and the Irishman would be a nice addition
to the side. It's not as if everyone who would be available would be a gamble,
either. Yes, there are plenty of guys who need to prove themselves
in the Premier League before they are taken seriously, including
Ivan Toney. However, some of them have been there and done it before and
are unlucky to still be in the Championship plying their trades.
Ismaila Sarr springs to mind because he was with Watford in the
Premier League and was linked with the
likes of Liverpool and Manchester United. After securing promotion,
The Hornets will want a hefty sum for the Senegalese, which could
be a sticking point. In that case, though, Leeds could move for Bournemouth midfielder
David Brooks. At only 23, his youth and intelligence, along with
his experience, could propel us further up the table in 2021 -
he'd also likely not command too high a fee should the Cherries
not gain promotion. One of the great things about having a wealth of talent in our
squad is that we can't fit them all in at once. There are only
11 first-team places, so some people must sit on the bench. Still,
that doesn't mean we should miss out on exciting prospects because
of a lack of game time. Michael Olise has been named December's
@EFL
Young Player of the Month!
Instead, savvy loan deals highlight how we can buy a young player
and send him back to his former club to allow him to grow in the
Championship. Currently, a deal like this for a player such as
Reading's Michael Olise would be ideal. With 12 assists this
season, the man has a lot to provide with his creativity. Plus,
Reading can't compete with Premier League football if Leeds come
knocking. Of course, the young man is comfortable at the Madejski Stadium,
making it an excellent nursery for him to learn his craft before
he travels north to the mighty Peacocks. To answer the question, there are several players Bielsa should
look at, including Ivan Toney, Michael Olise, and Ismaila Sarr.
Any of those three would brilliant additions to the squad. Whether
moves will materialise is still to be seen. Cheap, Quality Talent
Proven Pedigree
Savvy Loan Deals
Congratulations, @MichaelOlise10!
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