Victor Orta has proven a shrewd operator in the transfer market, helping Leeds United acquire exactly the kind of player needed for Marcelo Bielsa’s very specific style of play.
The Whites' director of football has not had an easy job since his appointment in 2017, but he has brought in several new additions who have proved to be bargain signings.
Leeds have, of course, spent a little more money having returned to the Premier League. The likes of Rodrigo and Robin Koch didn’t come cheap, though they already look like valuable signings.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at the best-value signings during Orta’s time at the club.
Mateusz Klich
Klich, three years after his arrival from FC Twente, remains an integral part of Bielsa’s midfield. His constant energy has endeared him to fans, and he has far surpassed expectations.
The Poland international was signed for a fee believed to be around £1.5 million, a steal given his performances since.
And Klich is not finished yet, having already scored twice in the Premier League this season.
Ian Poveda
Leeds signed Manchester City academy product Poveda in January and he already looks like an exciting prospect.
The 19-year-old has been restricted to cameos so far, but it’s clear that he’s a talent.
“First of all, he’s a very highly technical player,” said Bielsa after Poveda impressed as a substitute in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City.
“He’s a competitive player and he has physical resources which I haven’t seen before. He’s a player who in sprints and distance covered has immense values.
“This player came to Leeds thanks to Victor Orta and when I saw him I did not think he was going to have the evolution that he is having or the qualities that he is showing.”
Illan Meslier
Meslier is only 20 years old - and looks even younger - but he is starting to establish himself as a reliable Premier League goalkeeper.
He has shipped a few goals early on, but his performances against Sheffield United and Manchester City really caught the eye.
And for a reported fee of just £5m, it looks like good business for Leeds.
Pascal Struijk
Another young player who looks set for big things, Struijk arrived in 2018 from Ajax and has impressed in the handful of appearances he has made since.
The Belgian defender stood in admirably against Liverpool on the opening day of this season, with Liam Cooper out injured.
Ezgjan Alioski
Like Klich, Alioski was almost unheard of when he joined Leeds from FC Lugano in 2017.
A fee believed to be in the region of £2.25m was enough to sign the North Macedonia international, who has gone on to become something of a cult hero at Elland Road.
He remains a valuable squad player, too, able to play at left-back or as a left winger.
Pontus Jansson
Jansson was a sturdy and reliable defender for Leeds from 2016, when he first arrived on loan from Torino.
The Sweden international signed permanently a year later, going on to make over 100 appearances for the club.
When he was sold to Brentford last summer, Leeds made a profit of around £2m.
Tyler Roberts
Injuries have been a problem for Roberts, but he has looked a smart addition to Bielsa’s side since his £2.5m transfer from West Brom.
He is still only 21, too, and his market value is likely to grow significantly in the years to come.
Patrick Bamford
There were a few raised eyebrows when Leeds paid an initial £7m to sign Bamford from Middlesbrough in 2018.
He has more than repaid that since, firing the Whites to the Championship title last season with 16 goals, and hitting three in his first four Premier League appearances this term.
Two years on, it looks like another shrewd signing from Orta.
