Leeds sounded out manager as potential Bielsa successor amid worries over future – report
Leeds United sounded out Eddie Howe as a potential replacement for Marcelo Bielsa if Barcelona came in for the Argentine, according to The Sun.
The newspaper reported on their live blog [Sunday, 09:51] that Leeds “sensationally” lined up the former Bournemouth boss as a contingency.
Bielsa is yet to officially sign a new contract at Leeds with his last deal expiring at the end of last season.
However, managing director Angus Kinnear has recently revealed that Bielsa is “very, very close” to putting pen to paper on a new deal.
Barcelona sacked Quique Setien on Monday after his side lost 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The Spanish giants have since replaced Setien with former Everton manager Ronald Koeman, which ends fears at Elland Road that the La Liga club will eye up a move for Bielsa.
The 65-year-old has managed in Spain in the past having been in charge of Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao, where he reached the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals.
Howe would have been an interesting choice of Leeds’ if he was the man to eventually replace Bielsa in the Elland Road hotseat.
While many fans don’t like to discuss a Leeds without Bielsa, there will come a day when he needs to be replaced because he is 65 now and he has never stuck around too long at previous clubs.
Howe’s just led his Bournemouth side to relegation and we feel that his success on the south coast was largely helped by the millions upon millions of pounds he had at his disposal to spend.
He should have kept that squad up last season – easily.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared an update on speculation linking Rodrigo with the club.