Leeds United must offload Helder Costa on transfer deadline amid Phil Hay's claim.

What's the story?

Marcelo Bielsa's side are close to landing Dan James from Manchester United in a big-money deal, and in response to a question from a fan about any potential outgoings from Elland Road today, Hay had this to say: "One to watch. I mentioned a while back that Valencia like him."

Leeds must sell Costa

Reports in recent weeks and months have suggested that the Whites were open to letting him go this summer on a permanent basis, as they see him as someone who could be sold for a decent money to then be reinvested into the squad.

After a particularly disappointing performance in the Premier League against Liverpool last season, former Leeds striker Noel Whelan criticised the Portuguese winger, telling Football Insider: "The one player that disappointed me was Helder Costa. Once again he was poor. There is something there that is not right because Poveda came on and did more in that short time than Costa did in the 60 minutes he was on the field.

"He is fourth in the pecking order in terms of wingers for me. Poveda has to come before him now. He plays it safe and he’s negative. For a player that cost £16m, I need to see a hell of a lot more from him. At least Poveda runs at people. He is positive and that is what a winger should do. Costa has been a massive flop. A real disappointment again."

Indeed, former Premier League ace Carlton Palmer had previously said exclusively to Football FanCast: "You look at things and say, if you're looking to spend the type of money that Leeds are looking to spend, if you've got someone there on decent money and they aren't playing regular football, then those are the type to move on enable you to use his salary to bring in the players that you want, who are going to make your squad a better squad."

Costa had a woeful campaign in the Premier League last season for the Whites, scoring just three times and providing only three assists in 22 games - in fact, he's found the back of the net only eight times in 71 matches altogether for Leeds.

He has had a less than stellar start to this season as well, fluffing his big chance against Crewe in the Carabao Cup second round.

Earning around £70k-a-week, Costa is one of the Whites' highest earners at Elland Road, but he has done nothing to suggest that he is worthy of being in that category of players, and he is simply burning a hole in Andrea Radrizzani's pocket.

Deadline day is the perfect chance for Leeds United to get rid of him.

In other news: "It doesn't really work" - Joe Wainman raises big question mark over £57k-p/w Leeds star