Leeds United ready to pay £4.4m fee to hire Nuno Espirito Santo as new manager at Elland Road
Leeds United are ready to pay £4.4million (€5million) to release Nuno Espirito Santo from his contract at Al-Ittihad, according to TodoFichajes.
The Spanish news website reported on Thursday (16 February) that Leeds are considering paying Nuno’s release clause at the Saudi Arabian club in a bid to end their search for a new manager.
Nuno, 49, has been linked with replacing Jesse Marsch at Elland Road after the American was sacked by Andrea Radrizzani last Monday (6 February).
It was confirmed on Tuesday (14 February) that Michael Skubala will continue in an interim role for upcoming matches while Leeds continue to find a replacement for Marsch.
Best available option?
Leeds have burned through their shortlist in the space of a week.
Andoni Iraola, Raul, Marcelo Gallardo, Arne Slot and Alfred Schreuder have been among those linked with replacing Marsch in the Elland Road hot seat but for one reason or another, they haven’t worked out.
One of the major issues for Leeds is that they’re trying to hire managers who are currently in a job already and doing well in said job.
That’s why hiring Iraola from Europe-chasing Rayo Vallecano is tricky, as is a move for Feyenoord’s Arne Slot as he attempts to win the Dutch Eredivisie title.
Nuno’s Al-Ittihad are third in the Saudi Pro League, three points behind leaders Al-Shabab with two games in hand so, like Slot, he’s also in a title race.
It may be English football snobbery but surely managing at any club in the Premier League is better than trying to win major honours in the Middle East?
Nuno took charge at Al-Ittihad in July.
The former Wolves and Tottenham manager had a mixed bag of results in the Premier League but we still believe he could work out as a good option at Elland Road.
It’s just down to him.
Will he leave a title race in Saudi Arabia for a Premier League relegation battle?
In other Leeds United news, click here to see breaking, around-the-clock updates on Leeds’ search for a new manager in our interactive live blog.
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