Ex-Middlesbrough chief Aitor Karanka is not the favourite to fill the vacant managerial position at Leeds United, according to Sky sources.
Sky Sports revealed in their live transfer centre blog on Thursday afternoon (14:32pm) that the Spaniard was not in pole position to become the next Leeds manager, contrary to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
The Championship club are on the hunt for a new manager after much-loved chief Garry Monk tendered his resignation at Elland Road last week, having spent just one year at the club.
Monk led Leeds to a seventh-placed finish in the Championship, but having moved the Yorkshire-based outfit within touching distance of promotion to the Premier League, their failure to reach the play-offs proved a disappointing end to the season.
A number of high-profile names have since been linked with the managerial position at Leeds, including ex-Premier League duo Karanka and Claudio Ranieri.
Sky Bet have priced the Spaniard as the clear favourite to succeed Monk at odds of 1/5, but the latest report from Sky declares that he is not in such a favourable position.
Karanka was dismissed from his post as Middlesbrough manager in March, with the club edging closer to relegation from the Premier League.
His unemployed status made him an early candidate for the Leeds hierarchy, however, it was the appointment of Victor Orta at the club earlier this week that suggest Karanka’s arrival would be imminent.
Orta worked alongside Karanka at the Riverside Stadium as head of recruitment, but joined Leeds as their new director of football on Tuesday.
However, it appears as though the arrival of Orta will not necessarily pave the way for Karanka to join Leeds, with the search for a new manager set to continue.