Marcelo Bielsa knows all about Newell’s Old Boys and the legendary manager has gone back to his old club this week to sign Argentina international left-back, Milton Casco. The 27-year-old is on the verge of completing the move to Ligue 1 after a €2.75 million fee was agreed and Newell’s are already moving forward with an eye on replacements.

Over the past few years Casco has proved himself as one of the top full-backs in the Argentine Primera and is fully deserving of a move to Europe. Under Gerardo Martino, Casco lifted the 2013 Torneo Final and his displays down the Newell’s left both defensively and offensively were a key component of La Lepra’s success.

This link to Martino saw Casco named in the Argentina squad for the Copa América and although he never managed to displace Marcos Rojo, illustrates how highly the national team manager thinks of him.

Bielsa will also be very aware of this and having been on the lookout for a left-back it was a natural move for El Loco to contact the club that he is held in such high regard. A €2.75 million, with Newell’s retaining 15% ownership, was finally agreed and Casco will now travel to France to finalise the move.

Having been at Newell’s since 2012, after starting his career at Gimnasia, Casco will be a big loss for the club. The club are currently under pressure after losing a fourth consecutive clasico and so the timing is not ideal but manager Lucas Bernardi has a decent amount of good young players coming through. They are now looking for defensive reinforcements and veteran centre-back Hugo Campagnaro is now being closely linked, after leaving Inter Milan at the end of last season.