By Pranav Shahaney

17th Jan, 2022 | 10:00pm

Everton want to hire Leeds United managerial candidate Diego Martinez

Leeds United director of football Victor Orta will certainly be on edge as Everton are reportedly considering a move for Diego Martinez.

According to the Mirror, the former Granada manager is on a three-man shortlist that includes Niko Kovac and Wayne Rooney.

Per the Spanish media outlet Diario De Cadiz, Getafe are the third club he is set to turn down as he waits for a move to Elland Road in the summer to replace Marcelo Bielsa.

However, with Everton’s interest, things could get a lot more complicated and the Spaniard could give in.

He’s known to be fond of the Premier League and certainly would want to manage in the English top flight.

Having achieved promotion at Granada was already a remarkable achievement in itself, but then he went on to secure European football with them.

Much like Everton, that is the next step in the progression cycle for Leeds as well so it makes sense why the 41-year-old is considered as an option.

While he may be relatively young in terms of age, he’s amassed nearly 500 games of managerial experience.

That’s because he quit playing football when he was 20 and quickly turned to coaching.

It’s a decision that worked out and if Bielsa does actually walk away at the end of the season then Martinez would be ideal to replace him.

Whether or not the Toffees actually approach him remains to be seen as he’s expected to say yes to the next Premier League club that offers him a job.

In other Leeds United news, a ‘Phenomenal’ international right-back has fallen out with his manager amid a potential move to Elland Road