Latest Championship Odds: Bielsa 8/1 to guide Leeds to second-tier glory next season

BetOdds Betting Championship Derby County Leeds United West Bromwich Albion Fulham

Having confirmed the Argentine boss will remain at Elland Road for the 2019-20 campaign, bet365 make the Whites second favourites to win the division

A Leeds United statement on Tuesday confirmed that Chairman Andrea Radrizzani had "officially exercised the option to extend Marcelo Bielsaâ€™s contract for a second season."

The move will see the 63-year-old Argentine remain at Elland Road after an impressive, if ultimately disappointing, debut year in England.

Having finished third in the division before losing to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals, the Whites are understandably one of the more fancied sides to perform well when the new season gets underway.

bet365 go 8/1 (9.0) that Leeds win the Championship, making them second only to Fulham who currently top the outright betting at 7/1 (8.0) after an ill-fated year in the Premier League. The online firm offer prices on each team to achieve promotion too.

Bielsa's side are 5/2 (3.50) to secure a return to the top-flight either via a top-two finish or a play-off victory next term. Their tally of 83 points this season was the club's highest since winning promotion from League One in 2009-10.

It usually takes significantly more than that total to secure automatic promotion though. Only once in the last seven seasons would 83 points be enough to finish second (2012-13) with every other campaign since seeing the runners up amass at least 89.

The Whites, who have been outside the Premier League for 15 consecutive seasons, will hope that Bielsa's contract extension garners a team that were in contention for a top two finish until the final stages of the campaign.

Just 10 points from their last nine games meant Leeds, who topped the division at the turn of the year, were unable to fend off eventual champions Norwich City and second place Sheffield United. Leeds had the third best backline in the division having conceded 50 times at an average of 1.08 goals per game.

There were issues in the final third though. Kemar Roofe was the club's top scorer in the Championship, striking 14 times, despite missing a chunk of the second half of the season with injury. In fact, 14 other players netted more times than Leeds' leading marksman across the campaign.

West Brom (9/1), Stoke (10/1) and Cardiff (10/1) come next ahead of the third relegated side Huddersfield Town, who sit at 14/1 (15.0) for the 2019-20 title together with beaten play-off finalists Derby County.

Odds correct at the time of publish. Please gamble responsibly.

Check out the latest football odds at bet365

2019-05-28 18:00:04

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