Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola left in the running for Leeds United after contract talks with Carlos Corberan collapse
Leeds United were after Carlos Corberan but talks with the West Brom manager “collapsed” over contract length, The Telegraph reports.
The Hawthorns boss signed an extension to his current deal on Tuesday night (7 February), which now runs until 2027, having only arrived at the club in October.
The Daily Mail report that the Spaniard “rejected” the Whites after they only offered him an 18-month deal to replace Jesse Marsch at Elland Road.
Corberan had been a “major option” for the Whites job according to The Telegraph, and his removal from the field has left Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola as the main alternative with Feyenoord manager Arne Slot also in the running.
The Mail report that the 44-year-old Dutchman, who is currently top of the Eredivisie is “emerging as a contender”.
Scrambling
It appears that Corberan has thrown somewhat of a spanner into the works with his decision to remain at the Hawthorns, but given he is already doing good work there and they have shown greater commitment to him it is perhaps no surprise.
Prizing the Spaniard away from West Brom was always going to be difficult so the least Leeds United should have done if they wanted to get him was to convince the man himself.
That ship has now sailed, and Iraola was a prime candidate for Victor Orta either way, so the club will need to redouble their efforts to land him.
Slot is becoming an increasingly prominent figure in the race, despite not being mentioned among the early names.
While Corberan had a familiarity with Elland Road and has already demonstrated an ability to wash away fears of relegation this season with his work at the Hawthorns, that was apparently not enough to be offered a long-term deal.
Iraola is outperforming expectations in La Liga, currently having them in position to qualify for the Europa League after only getting them promoted to the Spanish top flight prior to last season.
Slot finished third in the Netherlands last year but was given the Rinus Michels Award for manager of the year ahead of Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
So the two names now most prominently linked with the Whites job have some impressive credentials, assuming the club can actually land one of them.
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