On the latest instalment of The Transfer Window podcast, Duncan Castles revealed that Max Allegri is unlikely to succeed Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United manager after reportedly being approached by the club’s hierarchy.
Bielsa has established himself as a fan-favourite amongst the Elland Road supporters during his time with the West Yorkshire outfit, but he’s not known for staying in the same job for a long period of time.
In fact, his current two-and-a-half-year stint with Leeds is the longest he’s ever stayed with a club side, and the Argentine is yet to extend his contract, which expires over the summer.
Understandably then, this situation has led to suggestions that a new man could be at the helm for the Whites’ 2021/22 campaign, and Castles revealed that the Leeds board are aiming high should they have to replace the 65-year-old, although they haven’t had much luck in their search so far.
He said: “Interesting information I have is that their preference, should they have to replace Bielsa this summer, is to get one of the top coaches in European football. And they don’t want a staging candidate, they want to go to the top of the market and try and get someone you probably wouldn’t associate with a club who are currently mid-table in the Premier League as being a candidate.
“The information I have is that they have made an approach to Max Allegri – out of work for over a year now since leaving Juventus after winning five straight Serie A titles and taking them to two Champions League finals – but available without compensation.
“It doesn’t look like Allegri will be convinced in this case. The information I have from people close to him is that the approach was made, but it didn’t particularly excite him. He has an offer from AS Roma at present from their new owners to come back to Italian football and coach there, one that they wanted him to take on during the season in which he said, no thank you.
“As we’ve told you in the podcast before, he’s waiting for one of the biggest jobs and world football, he wants a club at the very top level which he can have the opportunity to win the Champions League with.”
TIF Thoughts on Allegri…
Leeds are one of the biggest clubs in England, and Bielsa has done an incredible job in restoring their top-flight status, but it seems they’re still some way off from being able to attract the likes of Allegri to Elland Road.
There’s no doubt that the Italian coach is one of the game’s top tacticians, however, his style of play is undoubtedly a sharp contrast to that of Bielsa’s, so it’s unlikely that his arrival would have guaranteed immediate success, anyway.
Whoever does take over the reins once the South American departs will have huge footsteps to follow, though, and it will be intriguing to see how this Leeds team adapt upon Bielsa’s eventual exit.