Former Leeds United player Danny Mills has backed Helder Costa to be a better player in the Premier League than he is in the Championship.
While speaking to Football Insider, the pundit reckons that if Leeds can secure promotion, then Costa will come into his own as his skills will flourish better in an environment where he is allowed more time on the ball.
The 26-year-old on loan from Wolves will be moving to Elland Road on a permanent basis in the summer in a deal worth £15m, which will be spread over four payments, as per Football Insider.
The news outlet asked the former England international whether or not they thought the club could have got someone in who is a bit better for the value that they are paying.
Mills argued that considering he has been at the club for a season, he is not sure there are many better alternatives out there for a cheaper price.
He said: “It is tricky. A little bit too expensive but I am not sure who you can get in better for £5million less.
“Do you spend £10million on somebody who does not know the club? That is a risk. He knows the club and that is a big advantage.
“The Premier League is different to the Championship and some players’ styles are more suited. You get a little bit more time on the ball in the Premier League sometimes. It is not as physical or robust.
“Some players are better in the Premier League than they are in the Championship.”
Is Helder Costa good enough for the Premier League?
Nope, that's why he's at Leeds
Yes, wasn't given a proper chance
While you can see where Mills may be coming from in terms of the deal being a bonus as he has already acclimatised to the club, his comments about Costa being in the Premier League are a bit dumbfounding considering his recent history.
He may well be correct, but it’s not as if Costa hasn’t had a crack at the whip in the top-tier before, with the player racking up 25 appearances for Wolves last season in the Premier League.
Out of those games, 16 were starts, but even with Wanderers having an incredible first season back in the big time, he wasn’t really able to have any impact, scoring just once and having two assists.
Based on this, Mills’ comments about the player being able to blossom with more time and space doesn’t seem strictly true, but who knows how he could get on in the Premier League with Leeds.
His stats from the past two seasons don’t suggest he will make a huge impact – with him only scoring three and assisting three in 37 league games this season – however, you can’t make assumptions in football, so you can’t completely right off Mills’ comments, even if there is little evidence to suggest his prediction would be correct.
