The latest on Gjanni Alioski's Leeds United future and what Marcelo Bielsa has said about his left-back

The North Macedonian international, bound for the European Championships this summer, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Although reports have emerged this week of a potential move to Turkey, the YEP understands there is so far little substance behind them and Leeds, believing the player is happy at the club, are hopeful of reaching an agreement over a new deal.

Alioski joined Leeds in the summer of 2017 and has made 152 appearances, but under Marcelo Bielsa has undergone a transformation from left winger to left-back.

He was heavily involved in last season's title-winning team, starting 21 Championship games and coming off the bench in a further 18. Over the entire campaign Alioski was missing from the matchday squad on just two occasions.

Since the step up into the Premier League, Bielsa has continued to trust the 28-year-old, selecting him for the starting line-up in 14 of Leeds' 19 top flight fixtures, but there have been occasions when he has appeared to struggle, defensively.

After the 3-0 defeat at Spurs, Bielsa gave Alioski his backing and said the defensive issues encountered by his left-back would have been a struggle for anyone and in any case were more the responsibility of a head coach than a player.

"The situations Alioski may have suffered, they're not linked to the resources he has," said the Argentine.

"He has all the necessary resources to neutralise the capabilities of the opponents' forwards.

"The situations he faces are a very big disadvantage, like for any player it would be difficult for them to resolve. And for that I feel responsible because they are situations in the game where we make it difficult for him to defend because of our organisation. Any defender when they have to defend at a disadvantage, I'm referring to a moment where a forward has the ball at his feet and time to run with it, or losses of the ball that require an adaptation that is very difficult. Or when he has to return when we're attacking and the ball is lost unexpectedly, these are situations where it makes it more difficult for the defender and that have to do with the organisation of the game. That's where Alioski is less responsible and I am more responsible."

Bielsa discussed his options at left-back again before the Brighton game and revealed his belief that Alioski will, in time, develop into an even better player for that role.

"Ali is going through a period of development in this position that for me will end up in him becoming a very good and reliable option at left back," he added.