Towards the end of the transfer window, when teams were no longer allowed to sign players on a permanent basis but Championship sides could still bring in loans, Leeds were reportedly interested in Lille’s Farès Bahlouli.
Known to Marcelo Bielsa from their time spent at the French club together, the 23-year-old had enjoyed some minutes under the Argentine, but his early exit saw him swiftly relegated back to the reserves, where he has stayed ever since.
And that’s been an issue, one Leeds could easily solve in January should their manager still be interested in the attacking midfielder’s services.
Foot Mercato on Thursday look at the player’s situation, with those around him making it clear there’s ‘no issue’ with Lille, even despite the fact a transfer taking him to Elland Road was ‘aborted’ in the summer.
So it seems that Leeds did go as far as making a bid for Bahlouli, which wasn’t reported in France at the time, as all we saw was ‘interest’ from Bielsa.
We’ll have to see if anything can happen in January, but if the Argentine does want his former player at Elland Road, it won’t be expensive.
He’s not in the first-team, has just over a year on his contract, and Galtier has no plans for him.
He should be fairly easy to get.
