By George Overhill

10th Jun, 2023 | 9:10am

Daniel Farke on Leeds United manager list as 49ers first priority after takeover emerges - Phil Hay

Daniel Farke is under discussion at Leeds United with a new managerial appointment now the overwhelming priority after the 49ers takeover deal was reached with Andrea Radrizzani, Phil Hay reports.

With the agreement for the 100% takeover finally done the first job by “some distance” is to get a new manager in to replace Sam Allardyce who left by mutual consent over a week ago (2 June).

Former Norwich boss Farke joins a list that includes the likes of Scott Parker, Carlos Corberan and Steven Gerrard, as Hay notes in The Athletic that the Whites plan to go with a “fairly obvious option” rather than a “showstopper”.

Hay had mentioned discussions behind the scenes over the latter three options in his report for The Athletic on Wednesday (7 June) so the former Canaries boss is the latest addition.

The German won the Championship title twice at Carrow Road in 2019 and 2021, and was named EFL and LMA Manager of the Season in the division for his second league title win.

Hay writes: “Whatever 49ers Enterprises decides, an appointment should materialise rapidly now.”

Movement

Farke’s CV possibly makes him the most attractive choice of the four names mentioned given his track record in the Championship.

He never managed to replicate his success in the Premier League so should Leeds United succeed in returning to the top flight in a short timeframe it may seem less of a sensible appointment, but the key right now is promotion and he certainly knows how to do that.

The 46-year-old is currently out of work after being sacked by Borussia Monchengladbach after just one season following a 10th-placed finish.

Parker is also somewhat of a Championship specialist with less of a glowing record once he successfully gets promoted, while Corberan has shown he can do great work in the second tier amid difficult circumstances without actually getting over the hump.

The Spaniard is also the only one on the list currently in work at West Brom, but a reported £2million release clause in his contract [Daily Mail, 1 June] makes that less of a hurdle than it widely proved during the season.

Gerrard stands out as an unproven option and surely represents the biggest risk, but if the Whites are ready to pull the trigger on any one of those names it needs to come quickly so plans and action can start to be put into place in the transfer market.

In other Leeds United news, an £80million transfer budget has emerged with a key Whites star on the list of targets for a former league rival.