Leeds United manager update: ‘Growing talk’ around Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter – Ben Jacobs
There is now “growing talk” around the possibility that Leeds United could appoint either Graham Potter or Brendan Rodgers as manager, according to Ben Jacobs.
The Whites are looking to make up for lost time by getting in a replacement for Sam Allardyce now that the sale agreement from Andrea Radrizzani to 49ers Enterprises has been announced.
The former Chelsea and Leicester bosses respectively have both been linked to the role, although in large part seen as out of reach for Championship sides, but based on recent noises Jacobs has suggested that might not be the case.
The CBS journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “There are obviously a few candidates that Leeds are looking at at the moment. We’re hearing growing talk of names like Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter.
“I think both of those would see themselves as Premier League managers, but Leeds are a big club and in a year might be in the Premier League again, which is why Leeds may feel that they have that opportunity.”
Ambitious
Both are big name coaches with plenty of Premier League experience and are likely to be in the running for jobs in the top flight, either now or as soon as managers start to get sacked next season.
But the size of the Elland Road job, under a new regime that is looking to take the club to new levels, there is the chance that certain bosses could be convinced to take a step down for a season.
Whether the fact that their experience of the Championship isn’t extensive, and Rodger’s is over a decade ago now, would factor into the decision against the likes of Scott Parker and Daniel Farke remains to be seen.
But the chances are that, with both names likely to be on the shortlists for any decent-sized job going currently, Leeds United would still be fairly fortunate to land one, especially having lost two weeks in limbo while the ownership negotiations rumbled on.
Whoever comes in to replace Allardyce is going to be crucial for the make up of the squad this season, and the chances of making it back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Since sacking Marcelo Bielsa a year-and-a-half ago the Radrizzani regime didn’t handle the managerial question well, so the 49ers era needs to change that from the get-go.
In other Leeds United news, official approval for the takeover could yet take most of the summer to arrive.