There was so much excitement around the Leeds United fanbase when Helder Costa first started to turn out for the club.
This was it, the Whites had brought in a proven quality Championship player who could take them to the next level, and to make things even better Andrea Radrizzani had spent £15m in doing so. 29 goals was what he’d brought to a Wolves side in two years in the second tier – that shows his quality.
However, that optimism has quickly faded as Costa’s start to life at Elland Road hasn’t quite gone to plan.
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Indeed, the Portuguese winger was left out of the starting XI for a number of weeks when he first arrived, but an injury to Pablo Hernandez handed him a chance to play for his new club.
It’s fair to say that he’s been less than impressive for Leeds in recent weeks. He’s yet to score a league goal for the Whites, and he only has one assist to his name.
He’s proven his attributes at this level before, but will he ever come good at Leeds United?
We asked our team of writers to give their views on whether or not Costa will prove to be a worthwhile signing
Lewis Blain “The Costa conundrum at Leeds United is a strange one. He has clearly lit up the league in the past with parent club Wolves, where he bagged 15 goals and 14 assists over two seasons, per WhoScored – not quite Anthony Knockaert levels, but very close. “Marcelo Bielsa not believing the 25-year-old fits his system is equally baffling, because why sign him in the first place if it’s not right for how the Argentinian wants to play? I don’t think it is on the player to adapt either. Costa’s pace and power is exactly what he brings to the table, so he shouldn’t lose aspects of that just to please the manager.“The United boss needs to find a way to bring the best out of him and that’s by playing to his strengths rather than casting him out to dry already. You wanted the player, you make it work. Simple.” Kealan Hughes “It is difficult to see Helder Costa performing to the level Marcelo Bielsa wants on a consistent basis, as he simply doesn’t fit his style.“His passing hasn’t been good enough since starting regularly, with an accuracy of 71%, 70% and 60% in his last three games, and that isn’t at odds with the possession-based game that Leeds operate with.“The winger showed in his spell at Wolves that he works best when he is able to run in behind the opposition, but since Leeds often come up against deep defences, he has been less effective. There should be times when he gets an opportunity to do that, and his pace on the counter could be vital away from home, but aside from that he is unlikely to play well consistently.” Matt Dawson “In time, I’m fairly confident Helder Costa will prove to be an astute piece of business for Leeds, he simply has too much quality not to. After all, he contributed to 29 goals over two seasons in the Championship with Wolves. There is clearly a player in there but it’s not as though the rest of the team hasn’t been underperforming either.“Marcelo Bielsa has stated that he doesn’t come in off the wing in a way Pablo Hernandez does which suggests his place could be under threat once the Spaniard returns from an injury layoff. That would be vindicated given he’s yet to score or assist in any league outing he’s started.“It’s incredibly difficult to see how he’ll come good soon but this is a long season and he will play his part eventually. Perhaps he hasn’t been ready to start but it is only October – perspective is needed.“Truth be told, he’s been woeful when he’s started in the Championship but patience is required.” Charles Jones
“I think Marcelo Bielsa hit the nail on the head when he said that his tactics aren’t suited towards a pacy winger like Helder Costa.
“The Portuguese wide man simply doesn’t have the same technical abilities as someone like Pablo Hernandez and until he develops those he will continue to be ineffective on the wing for the Whites as it’s highly unlikely that Marcelo Bielsa will stray away from his tactics in order to accommodate for him.
“Unfortunately, I think Costa won’t be a star for Leeds under Bielsa, but I do think there is a player in there to be unlocked by another team or another manager.”