Leeds United’s reported dream manager choice Jaap Stam does not want to quit Reading for their Championship rivals, according to his agent.
Stam’s representative Henk Timmer has told Dutch media outlet Voetbal International that the 44-year-old will remain loyal to Reading unless a big club from the Premier League come knocking.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported on Saturday that the former Manchester United defender has been identified by Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani as a leading candidate to replace Garry Monk.
It is said that Radrizzani is weighing up an approach to his club’s Championship rivals Reading for permission to hold talks with Dutchman Stam, who is on Leeds’ four-man shortlist.
Voetbal International go even further and claim that Stam is United’s “dream new coach” but his agent gave little encouragement that his client will swap Berkshire for Yorkshire.
“There is a lot of interest in Jaap, from English clubs and elsewhere in Europe,” Timmer said. “But he is loyal to Reading, the club has given him the chance in English football. If a big club in the Premier League knocks it might be a different story, the club is so realistic also. But as it stands now Jaap wants to finish his job at Reading.”
Stam was appointed by Reading last summer and guided them to the Championship play-off final, but they lost out on promotion to Huddersfield Town following penalty shoot-out heartache.
The Dutchman has a contract with the second-tier club that lasts until 2018 with the option of another year.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani revealed on Twitter on Tuesday night that the club will start interviewing candidates for the vacant post this week as he insisted that time will be taken to find the correct candidate.
Garry Monk resigned as Leeds manager 17 days ago and has subsequently been appointed as the new manager of recently relegated Middlesbrough.