Bielsa’s new Saiz: Stuart McKinstry can save Leeds millions | OneFootball

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa could find his new Samuel Saiz and save the club millions in the transfer window at the same time.

The Yorkshire outfit have long been on the lookout for a new midfielder, particularly of an attacking nature, having seen two bids rejected for RB Salzburg sensation Brenden Aaronson during the January transfer window.

Before him, it was Conor Gallagher in the summer and one-time Bayern Munich man Michael Cuisance.

There has been a creative void in Bielsa’s engine room for several seasons, aside from veteran Pablo Hernandez, the Whites have been missing a player of Saiz’s ilk for quite some time.

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Well, in academy gem Stuart McKinstry, the Argentine may well have the answer and considering the Yorkshiremen couldn’t even land Aaronson for £20m, the young midfielder could save them millions of pounds in upcoming windows.

The 19-year-old maestro has already made his senior bow, coming on as a substitute during a Carabao Cup clash with Fulham in September this year, where he scored the winning penalty to see the Whites into the next round.

For the U23s, McKinstry has delivered three assists from 13 appearances, largely playing in four different roles across the heart of the pitch, via Transfermarkt.

Not only has he been dubbed the ‘next big thing’ to come out of Elland Road by the very reliable Phil Hay of The Athletic but his youth teammates have likened him to Lionel Messi, which only bolsters his creative and attacking credentials.

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“He’s a very confident ball carrier, he’s physically strong, good upper body strength, excellent feet, good at beating his man and creative. In his head, he probably feels he can play in other positions up front as well,” claimed the journalist.

Meanwhile, the Scot’s former academy director at Motherwell – Steven Hammell – once lauded him as a “fabulous young player” who “will do wonderful things and become a household name in the next three or four years” to the Lanarkshire Live Sport Podcast.

So, on the above evidence, Bielsa could well discover his next Saiz-like playmaker and one that will save the club so much money in the future. He’s certainly an exciting prospect who deserves a chance given the lack of options and the ever-mounting injury list.