Leeds United

Karanka one of three out of Leeds managerial race

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Leeds United will not be considering Aitor Karanka or Michael Laudrup for the vacant managerial post at the club, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The newspaper report that the Championship club are set to pursue alternative managerial targets, despite the duo emerging among the frontrunners for the position at Elland Road.

Leeds are on the hunt for a new manager following a shock decision at the end of last month that saw Garry Monk resign from his post, after just one year in charge of the club.

Monk had initially joined a one-year rolling contract, a deal which the club were keen to extend, only for the 38-year-old to reject their advances and seek a new challenge.

But it is now apparent that Leeds may have narrowed their list of potential candidates to succeed Monk, having ruled out three high-profile names.

Karanka, Laudrup and ex-Whites boss Simon Grayson are the three names that are reported to have been eliminated from the race, with ex-Middlesbrough chief Karanka having been the early favourite.

The Spaniard was sacked by Middlesbrough in March amid the club’s continued struggles to remain in the Premier League, with Karanka having won promotion from the Championship a year before.

His appointment seemed the most likely outcome for Leeds in their ongoing managerial pursuit, particularly after his former Middlesbrough colleague Victor Orta was unveiled as the club’s news Director of Football.

Laudrup, meanwhile, who also has previous Premier League managerial experience with Swansea City, as well as current Preston North End chief Grayson, will also not be considered for the role.

There are still a host of candidates linked with the role, including ex-Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri, and the latest development suggests that Leeds are edging closer to finding Monk’s replacement.

Meanwhile, SkyBet have installed assistant head coach Pep Clotet as a heavy favourite for the job with odds of just 4/7. Karanka is still the second favourite but his odds have tumbled to 3/1.

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