With just one week remaining of this year's extended summer transfer window, Leeds United have shown no sign of panic buying. Now both first team signings are beginning to settle in, and Diego Llorente is still unpacking his bags, it is now time to look at rounding off what could be a stellar window for the Whites.
Ahead of Sunday's success in the Yorkshire derby, Marcelo Bielsa hinted at further arrivals coming through the door. He revealed that "there is likely to be a couple more incorporations into the team".
Interestingly, Leeds have sent out two promising youngsters out on loan, both of which are in positions the Whites have been looking to strengthen.
Firstly, winger Jordan Stevens has made his move to Swindon Town last week and opened his goalscoring account on his debut against Burton Albion. Also moving to a Football League club was Alfie McCalmont who will be looking at making a mark at Oldham Athletic in EFL League Two.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dream debut 🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MondayMotivation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MondayMotivation</a> brought to you by Jordan Stevens ⚽️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/yVJmuNrPHc">pic.twitter.com/yVJmuNrPHc</a></p>— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/1310512071600082944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bayern Munich wonder-kid on his way to Leeds?
Considered by many as one of the biggest fresh talents coming out of France, Michaël Cuisance has - according to respected journalist, Fabrizio Romano - agreed a five-year deal with Leeds already.
Cuisance is a versatile midfielder who is able to play as a deep lying playmaker, a box-to-box number eight, an attacking number ten, and the 21-year-old can even play on either wing.
Despite being only 21, the French youngster has made 50 senior appearances for both Borussia Monchengladbach, and Bayern Munich.
He managed to break into the team of the European champions ten times last season, picking up a goal and an assist.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michaël Cuisance told to Bayern Münich board he wants to play. That’s why he agreed personal terms with Leeds. Bayern and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LUFC</a> are still negotiating about the fee. ⚪️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/transfers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#transfers</a> <a href="https://t.co/ifUQVVqCb7">https://t.co/ifUQVVqCb7</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1310539212228354053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Where does Cuisance fit in at Elland Road?
It is no secret that Pablo Hernandez is in his final years as a professional and Leeds are looking for an apprentice for El Mago.
Cuisance has the capability of slotting in next to Mateusz Klich in the four-man midfield to be the catalyst the Whites need when going forward.
On the weekend, the number ten position was occupied evenly by Tyler Roberts in the first half and then record signing Rodrigo Moreno in the second. While there is little doubt that they are a talented pair, both are more favoured to be playing in Patrick Bamford's position at the head of the field.
Can Cantwell provide the answer?
Very similar to Cuisance, Norwich City academy graduate, Todd Cantwell is another versatile attack minded player. For periods of the last campaign Cantwell impressed in the Premier League, scoring six times and picking up two assists.
While his stats aren't exactly mind-blowing, there were flashes of brilliance from the 22-year-old in a Norwich side that showed very little quality over the course of the 38 games.
Noticeably, one of Cantwell's most impressive and translatable attributes is his hard working nature. Coming through the Norwich academy and spending a year out on loan in the Netherlands, he is a wide midfielder who has matured as a senior footballer at a young age and will be respected if he can apply his engine in Leeds' midfield.
One or the other
Will Leeds' budget cover both deals?
Earlier in the month, Leeds' owner Andrea Radrizzani revealed in an interview with the Financial Times that the West Yorkshire club "had a budget to spend a further £35m-£50m more on two to three players to bolster its squad."
Since that interview, the Whites have spent £18m on Spanish international centre-half, Diego Llorente. That would then seem to suggest that Leeds' budget will at most stretch to £30m - but would that be enough acquire the signatures of both talents?
According to reports from LeedsLive, Leeds are constructing an £18m bid for the young France under-20 international, Michael Cuisance.
In terms of his English counterpart, Leeds have reportedly bid £15m this afternoon for Cantwell - that's according to Football Insider.
There could be a potential that both players will sign on the dotted line for the Whites, but which would have the biggest impact?
So, who should it be?
Many a great word has been said about both of their abilities as footballers, but as we now know, playing under Bielsa is about much more than the quality a player possesses in his feet.
Upon joining German giants Bayern Munich, Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic highlighted Cuisance's "great mentality."
Domestically, in Norfolk, Cantwell has been shoehorned into the 'arrogant' category of young footballers, along with Jack Grealish - Cantwell has even been labelled the 'Justin Bieber of Norwich'.
In an interview with the Telegraph just prior to lockdown, the young midfielder agreed that “there are players who are arrogant, and players who probably need more self-confidence. But if you get the balance right, you can get the best out of yourself."
If Cantwell can prove he has the right attitude to succeed, he could be a quality option.
With that being said, yesterday, Canaries coach Daniel Farke left out Cantwell from the squad this weekend, with the explanation that he was not "fully focused, disciplined and switched on."
The race against time
The deciding factor could come down to the fact that the international transfer window will slam shut at 23:00 GMT on Monday the 5th of October, and therefore limit the time that is remaining to get the Cuisance deal over the line.
The end of the international window does however signal the beginning of the domestic window - the window in which clubs can trade domestically in the UK until the 16th of October.
If Cuisance isn't posing for a photo looking out onto the pitch of Elland Road this time next week, the saving grace will be that there will be another 11 days to attract ‘Justin Bieber’ to play up north, and not at the First Direct Arena.