George Overhill

Mon 3 July 2023 18:40, UK

Carlton Palmer has warned Leeds United off any late temptation to appoint Regis Le Bris as manager after late developments during the delay on Daniel Farke.

The German is widely believed to be in line to take over at Elland Road, with the club insisting on waiting to announce the new man until they have received official ratification from the EFL of the 49ers’ buy-out of Andrea Radrizzani.

But as the “very latest” deadline for when they hoped to have the former Norwich boss in place came and went over the weekend a Saturday (2 July) report from Mohamed Toubache-Ter in France claimed the Whites were back in for Le Bris and were “attacking” the pursuit, before the Lorient boss then failed to turn up for training Monday morning [Ouest-France, 3 July], sparking renewed speculation.

But BBC pundit and former Elland Road midfielder Palmer wants Farke in at Elland Road and told Football League World: “Leeds have reportedly been linked with Regis Le Bris as their new head coach.

“Although Le Bris is forging a growing reputation as head coach, I think at this juncture where Leeds are looking to bounce back to the Premier League, it is too risky.

“They need an experienced head coach who has tasted promotion. Daniel Farke for me is the outstanding candidate of the names mentioned so far.

“He has romped the division twice, and would likely have a bigger budget to work than on the two previous occasions when he got Norwich promotion.”

False alarm?

Farke has been a key name in the race throughout, despite surges in reporting around the likes of Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers.

Phil Hay reported on 23 June that Patrick Vieira and Scott Parker had made the interview process alongside the German, with the Frenchman now announced while Farke continues to wait, with no mention of Le Bris.

So it would be a wild swing if Leeds United would have dropped the presumed arrival of the two-time Championship winner to bring in the AWOL Lorient manager, who only has experience in France.

There would be an obvious argument to prefer Farke either way as Leeds gun for promotion, but with all indications in England being that it is indeed now his job in all but name the sudden re-emergence of links to the 47-year-old Frenchman feel like they must be wide of the mark.

The Whites have made appointing new managers somewhat of a circus over the past year but surely under the new regime such a lurch in the opposite direction would even be too far for this club.

How long the delay might continue only the EFL will know for sure, but it is the past and future owners’ fault as much as anyone’s and while the wait goes on the door is theoretically still ajar for a shock.

In other Leeds United news, according to Fabrizio Romano a big-money first-team player is in the “final stages” of a deal to leave the club.