This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
There are lots of variables at play in QSI’s possible takeover of Leeds but journalist Phil Hay has suggested Marcelo Bielsa would stay if he liked what they were saying.
Hay was answering fan questions during his Q&A for The Athletic after the Whites’ late win over Luton on Saturday evening.
What’s he said?
Rumours of a possible takeover by Qatari consortium QSI first originated in the summer as the business that own PSG looked to invest more funds into football.
Presumably because of ties with current Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani, Leeds was touted as a possible entry of further investment into sport.
Reports recently have suggested that they are still interested in taking over the Yorkshire outfit and Radrizzani has even been spotted in Paris. What he was discussing is unknown but it could well have been the possibility of a takeover.
Hay has claimed in the past that Bielsa is likely to go if the club doesn’t achieve promotion this season. However, QSI could throw another variable into the mix. Having his say on the situation, the journalist said:
“If he liked what QSI were saying and if he trusted them, he’d stay”
Good news for Leeds
Bielsa has done some fabulous things for the football club since he walked through the doors in 2018. He took them to the playoffs and has since guided them to second place in the Championship this term.
He’s changed the direction of Leeds, who were a club sitting in mid-table mediocrity before he entered.
New owners don’t necessarily mean a safe job, however. When Birmingham brought in new people behind the scenes they very quickly got rid of the impressive Gary Rowett before they slipped down the league table.
It seems unlikely that QSI would sack a manager with as much prowess and experience in the game as Bielsa but from Hay’s words, it seems as though it could be in the Argentine’s hands, rather than theirs.
It was perhaps a surprise that the 64-year-old decided to stay this season after he failed to take them up, but if they do indeed achieve promotion in 2019/20, the prospect of keeping him will surely be greater.
Couple that with the sheer investment that QSI could provide and he’d be foolish to walk out of Elland Road. This is a business that Radrizzani has claimed could put the Whites on par with Manchester City.
That tells you all you need to know about their financial muscle. If they do arrive, Bielsa must trust that their backing is the right one.
And in other news, check out what Phil Hay has been saying about two January targets…
