This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
We may only be in October but Helder Costa has had a rather puzzling start to life at Elland Road.
Next summer he will become a £15m permanent signing for Leeds, making him the most expensive man to walk through their doors since a certain Rio Ferdinand.
It’ll take some doing to live up to the England great in west Yorkshire and judging by his performances to date, he doesn’t look like replicating it.
Costa got off to a flyer in the Carabao Cup by contributing to three goals in just two games. The Portuguese also assisted Eddie Nketiah for a late winner against Brentford.
However, since that clash he’s been largely underwhelming and hasn’t yet hit the heights expected in the Championship.
Costa was involved in 29 goals across two campaigns for Wolves at this level but since finally coming into the starting XI on a weekend, he hasn’t delivered.
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The 25-year-old has rarely been involved in the action and it’s making the rather loud calls for him to start a bit premature.
He disappointed so much during the defeat against Millwall that he was lumped off at half-time, something that gave a fine indication of his relationship with Marcelo Bielsa.
With Leeds down to ten men he was the player sacrificed. It wasn’t Jack Harrison, nor was it Mateusz Klich who failed to create a single chance during the 90 minutes.
This said a lot about where Costa is at Leeds right now. During his 46 minutes on the pitch, he had three unsuccessful touches and failed to play a key pass or have a shot, via WhoScored.
It was a poor showing but one we’ve become accustomed to after he walked into the starting line-up.
Since starting, the Wolves loanee has created just one opportunity – something that’s particularly alarming.
This all comes after he left his manager rather angry too. Commenting on the Inside Elland Road podcast after the club’s 1-1 draw with Derby, YEP journalist Graham Smyth said:
“He trotted inside and took up a no.10 role and Bielsa was quite visibly angered by Helder doing this – maybe not listening to instructions or not doing what Bielsa had wanted him to do.”
At the moment it doesn’t look like the understanding is there and if Costa let Bielsa down on that occasion, he certainly did with his performance at The Den.
For all the cries for him to be included, he hasn’t done much to prove it was justified.
One positive for Costa is that he does have time on his side, however.
