Leeds United news as Marcelo Bielsa is linked with…

Leeds United news as Marcelo Bielsa is linked with return to international management

Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Sunday, 4 December.

Bielsa linked with managerial return

Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has been linked with a return to management with the Uruguay national team after they were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup.

Despite being closely linked to the managerial vacancy at Bournemouth in recent times, Bielsa has remained out of work following his emotional departure from Elland Road in February.

The 67-year-old earned a heroic status after guiding the Whites to a long-awaited Premier League return in 2020 and oversaw an admirable top-half finish during the 2020/2021 campaign.

According to TyC Sports, Uruguay have now identified Bielsa as the man to replace Diego Alonso following a disappointing group stage exit in Qatar. They claim: “With the aim of qualifying Uruguay for the 2026 World Cup, he is chosen to succeed Alonso.

"El Loco will have his third experience in South American teams. One of the best returns to the continent.”

Bielsa has previously enjoyed spells in charge of Argentina and Chile's national sides, leading the former to an Olympic gold medal win in 2004.

Leeds were 'so close' to Gakpo signature

Jesse Marsch has revealed that Leeds United were 'so close' to securing the summer addition of Cody Gakpo and admits that a deal for the 23-year-old is now likely to be out of the Whites' price range.

The Netherlands attacker has exploded at the 2022 World Cup and is currently tied at the top of the Golden Boot race with four others. Gakpo’s three goals in three matches has only taken most Leeds fans back to the final day of the summer transfer window. Victor Orta was in Eindhoven to pull together the final details of the transfer with PSV, only to see the rug pulled from under his feet at the 11th hour.

It was another hugely frustrating conclusion to a transfer chase for Orta and Leeds, who would be spurned again on deadline day before bringing Wilfried Gnonto’s January move forward. At the time, Andrea Radrizzani had said Leeds would look to return for Gakpo in the winter window, but an outrageous run of form for club and country has, realistically, put him beyond their reach.

Speaking on Men in Blazers this week, Marsch explained: “First, it’s difficult for us at Leeds because I think Gakpo has gotten out of our price range,” he said. “I mean we were so close to securing a transfer for him in the summer."

Brother of Leeds star seals eye-catching European move

Paxten Aaronson is set to follow in the footsteps of his brother Brenden and make the move to Europe in January. The 19-year-old sealed a switch to Eintracht Frankfurt last month with the transfer officially set to go through once the window opens.

It is a similar career path to that of Brenden, with the Leeds United star also taking the plunge to leave MLS at 19 when he joined Red Bull Salzburg. It was that move to Austria that is now allowing him to flourish in the Premier League, as well as step out for his country at this winter's World Cup, with the US having reached the last-16.

According to the Athletic, Frankfurt had been keeping tabs on Paxten for 12 months before deciding to give his signing the green light.

He became just the fourth player in Philadelphia Union's history to be sold to Europe, with Brenden the first almost three years ago. Union's sporting director Ernst Tanner spoke highly of Paxten's chances of succeeding at Frankfurt upon the completion of the transfer.

He said: "“Developing young players is basically our DNA. “It’s something we’re really focused on and both Paxten and his brother come out of a perfect football background, from a family who have always supported them.