Leeds and Southampton were both gunning for the signature of the French left-back, who was plying his trade for Brest in his homeland.
Perraud was keen on a move to the Premier League and had two offers on his table, from the Whites and the Saints.
And it has been claimed that it was the very different approaches of the two managers that helped him make the decision.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl made a warm sales pitch to the defender to convince him to move to St. Mary’s.
The Saints boss outlined how the full-back’s defensive intensity would suit the kind of football Southampton play.
While the Austrian was warmer in person, Bielsa was more stand-offish and the defender eventually joined Southampton.
The former Leeds manager was not known for trying to convince players to move to Elland Road.
Most of the recruitment sales pitches at Leeds are still made by Victor Orta, but this time around it cost them the signing of Perraud, who preferred Hasenhuttl’s hands-on approach.
