Marcelo Bielsa outlines how he intends to use Raphinha at Leeds United

Leeds United’s summer deadline day signing Raphinha is yet to make his full Premier League debut under Marcelo Bielsa but is already making an impression.

The Brazlian winger arrived in the final hours of the transfer window in late September for an initial fee of £17m from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais.

Under Bielsa at Elland Road there have been adjustment periods longer than others for recent arrivals, but the 23-year-old has already shown glimpses of why Victor Orta splashed the cash to lure him away from Champions League football in France.

The moments have been few, yet they haven’t been far between given his involvement for just 60 minutes thus far.

A defence-splitting pass to Luke Ayling against Aston Villa sent social media wild before his second half introduction against Crystal Palace injected pace and trickery.

His turn on the touchline to leave Patrick van Aanholt behind at Selhurst Park was enough to open mouths in the 4-1 defeat, even a rifled free-kick that whistled over the bar was cause for excitement.

Raphinha has played in the middle behind the striker and as a front man in his career to date, but is expected to continue to provide Bielsa with another option as a wide man for the immediate future at least.

Helder Costa was the one to make way in south London, and the former Wolves winger is most likely the one under threat from Raphinha’s presence.

“Fundamentally he [Raphinha] plays on either wing,” Bielsa said.

“He is a player who is naturally very attacking, with ability to get in behind, with dribbling skills.

“They are virtues to attack and these are skills applicable out wide as well as in the centre.

“I won’t say that I won’t use him in any other position but fundamentally I see him as player to play on either wing.

“He has played in the centre as a striker and attacking midfield but he arrived in our team to be an alternative or option on the wing.”