Bielsa cannot afford to allow Saiz to be tempted by a return to Spain with Getafe

By Sam Preston

Samuel Saiz attracting interest from Getafe and has told Leeds he is keen to return to Spain, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

They report that Saiz has been exploring the possibility of heading back to his homeland since the summer – with the fact his partner is pregnant playing a part – and Getafe are reportedly ready to offer him an exit route.

The situation has apparently developed more quickly than Leeds anticipated, as they were reportedly ready to wait until the new year before negotiating an extending deal with the playmaker.

Saiz was a talismanic figure for Leeds last season but Marcelo Bielsa has admitted lately he has struggled for form and confidence; he did not start for six weeks before playing in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over QPR.

(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

That drop off in form, the fact Saiz is unsettled and Izzy Brown’s impending return from injury may all combine to convince Leeds that they can live without the Spaniard, but selling him would represent an almighty risk.

On his best form, Saiz is the man who can get this Leeds side playing; Bielsa has been prepared to sacrifice his goalscoring output to move him deeper and set the tempo of the whole team.

Brown is talented, but is an unknown quantity and successful sides don’t tend to sell their best players in January; Bielsa should do all he can to keep Saiz until the end of the season at the very least.