Phil Hay: Leeds United manager news as Andoni Iraola clause makes attempts awkward
The Athletic’s Phil Hay has shared that Leeds United face an “incredibly awkward” attempt to lure Andoni Iraola away from Rayo Vallecano due to the manager’s contract clause.
Hay confessed that things aren’t as simple as Leeds United busting their way in and paying the £7m release clause to bring Iraola to Elland Road.
The journalist admitted that it sounds like Iraola would have to pay his own release clause via the Spanish FA, which is proving to be a massive stumbling block for Leeds.
“There is a buy-out clause in his contract with Rayo Vallecano but from speaking to people it’s quite hard to get a handle on how it works over there,” said Hay speaking on The Phil Hay Show. (10 February)
“It’s been suggested it’s not a simple case of Leeds going in there and saying right we pay your buy-out clause and there is nothing Rayo Vallecano can do.
“It sounds as if Iraola has to pay it himself via the Spanish FA and it sounds quite convoluted and quite complicated and any attempts at the moment to get Rayo Vallecano to let him go and to make this happen have not been successful.
“It’s incredibly awkward to go through that process, emotionally awkward and I guess quite confrontational as well.”
Never plain sailing.
It’s never plain sailing for Leeds United, is it? Just as the club start to look like they are making progress with a sensational January transfer window, they take 10 steps back.
The sooner this new manager fiasco is sorted the better and the club’s hierarchy needs to get a move on with getting someone over the line.
There are pros and cons to all the candidates and rumoured targets Leeds United have been linked with, however, Iraola is arguably the most exciting of the bunch.
Whether he makes the switch to Elland Road will likely come down to Iraola himself and whether he wants to force a move to the Premier League or not.
It’s a massive opportunity for a coach like himself and the chance to be part of a young and promising Premier League outfit would be tough to turn down.
Nevertheless, with the custard pie already being thrown in the Whites’ face during their search, it would hardly be surprising if a move for the Vallecano manager fell through too.
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