Victor Orta on why Rodrigo is a 'perfect' fit, Leeds United's Premier League goal and the recruitment plan

Victor Orta is clear about what his role at Elland Road entails when it comes to recruitment - finding and procuring players who are suitable for Bielsa's style, acceptable in the coach's mind and actually needed to augment the team. His job is to make Bielsa's job easier.

The pair have a constant dialogue about transfers and the work that needs to be done. Their conversation about record signing Rodrigo was not a long one, Orta claims it took Bielsa around 60 seconds to get on board with the idea of bringing the Spanish international forward to Yorkshire.

Only one conclusion can be drawn from that and from the fact that Leeds shelled out a record-breaking fee of around £27m, with add-ons, for a 29-year-old. Bielsa must see something in Rodrigo that will make him a working part of the Leeds machine.

As Orta points out, this was no hidden gem being unearthed, Rodrigo has as high a profile as any new arrival in the club's history and his quality is evidenced by his involvement in the Champions League and the Spanish national team. But no one enters Bielsa's team on past merits alone and many of the high profile players linked with the club in gossip columns would never have been considered by the Whites head coach, no matter their quality. Every signing must be the right signing and Orta believes this one is right.

"He is a player no one discovered because he's a top talented player who plays in the Spanish national team, in Valencia, in the Champions League," said Orta.

"When we knew he could be available we tried to explain our project, to try explain our ambition and what was really good was that the father and the player understood what we are, what we will be. We are really happy, he is one of our targets and now it's really pleasing for me, my team. We are really happy.

"We have a combination play, we need a striker with a lot of mobility, he can play forward, he can play secondary striker, he can play number 10, he can make a lot of movement, attacking the space that is part of our style. He can cause damage on the wing, he has goals and I think when we analysed the player in our style for our coach, for me he fits perfectly because he has all the attributes to be a successful player with us.

"When we discussed names and put the name on the table Marcelo was really clear, if we had the chance we need to take him. He understood too it is not easy in this market, bringing quality players in. We have a style that is really clear. After that meeting we started and now we are here. It was a really good process, really clear and really quick. Now one of our main targets is with us."

Rodrigo was the first major signing of the summer, although the club had already completed significant business before Orta flew to Valencia last week for negotiations that went so well, in his eyes, that the two clubs could have a working relationship in future.

Illan Meslier's loan was turned into a permanent deal, Jack Harrison was brought back on loan for a second season from Manchester City and a clutch of highly-rated youngsters were added to the Under 23s group.

Leeds still have work to do before the squad is complete but have undoubtedly added quality for the present and the future. In Rodrigo's case, fans could equate a current Spanish international striker with heady heights and a glorious return to the Premier League, but Orta is keen to keep expectations rooted in reality.

"We know our goal, we want to retain our Premier League status," he said.

"We need to be clear, we want to bring quality, not quantity. We need to be honest that we want to establish the team in the Premier League, 16 years is a lot of time [to be away].

"We need to finish the job now. Our strategy is quality, not quantity. I'm really happy with the situation with the Under 23s, a lot of good work from the recruitment department behind me. It is true that it is a strange market. We have sorted a lot of deals for the Under 23s, we are building for the future. Rodrigo is a strategic signing and we have to be clever. We have a plan, we need to follow it."