Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is heading for a major transfer howler as a fresh update emerges on their pursuit of Brest's Romain Perraud.

What's the story?

According to previous reports from The Athletic's Phil Hay, the Whites were eyeing a summer transfer move for the left-back.

However, The Mirror's David Anderson has now claimed that Bielsa's side have actually moved on from their chase of Perraud, saying that he's hearing the Yorkshire club are "no longer trying to sign" him.

Bielsa howler

In Perraud, not only would they be getting a solid defender, but also someone who really comes into his own going forward and providing his team with a vital attacking outlet. This season alone has seen him manage an impressive seven assists in Ligue 1 alone, with only three Leeds players managing more (Raphinha with nine, Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison with eight each).

Writing a profile piece for The Athletic, Hay noted: "Perraud, 23, played for France up to under-20s level and his performance data — taken from smarterscout, which gives detailed analytics on players all over the world and gives ratings between zero and 99 across a series of metrics — shows characteristics which would meet Bielsa requirements: a creative edge and a high number of dribbles and shots for a player at his position, combined with a very active role in pressing defensively."

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As per WhoScored, Perraud outshines Gjanni Alioski in numerous key categories both offensively and defensively, averaging more interceptions, key passes, shots, dribbles and crosses, while also being dribbled past only half as often as the Leeds defender.

With Alioski looking set to leave Elland Road, the £7.2m-rated Perraud appears to be the ideal fit for Bielsa as Hay suggests, and his stats certainly prove as such.

For Leeds and Bielsa to seemingly move on from him comes across as a major and baffling transfer oversight. It's a decision which could leave the fans very unhappy indeed.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are plotting a fresh move for this star...