Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has taken to Twitter to state that interviews with managerial candidates will take place this week, while Claudio Ranieri’s agent has ruled the Italian out of the Elland Road running.
The Championship side are looking for a new head coach after Garry Monk sensationally walked out on the club last month after not being able to agree terms on a contract extension.
Over the last fortnight a host of names have been mentioned as possible successors, while the Whites fans have been getting frustrated at the lack of news.
Leeds owner Radrizzani, who completed a takeover of the Yorkshire club last month, has tweeted that interviews are scheduled to take place this week.
I understand frustration, we are meeting candidates this week. It is important we take the time to make the best decision for the club #LUFC
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) June 6, 2017
One man that will seemingly not be taking part in interviews is Ranieri, who had been heavily touted as a possible candidate.
The Italian trainer has been out of work since February after being sacked by Leicester City, nine months after leading the Foxes to a momentous Premier League title.
However, Ranieri’s agent Steve Kutner has told the Yorkshire Evening Post that “there’s no truth to the rumours” linking the former Chelsea boss to the Elland Road post.
Monk’s resignation came as a hammer blow to the Leeds fans, who were re-energised by the manager and his brand of attacking football last season.
The Whites came within a whisker of qualifying for the Championship play-offs, but a poor run of form at the end of the campaign agonisingly saw the club finish seventh.
Getting the right candidate to replace Monk will be critical in the club’s chances of pushing towards promotion to the Premier League next season, with the likes of Alan Pardew, Aitor Karanka and the former manager’s assistant Pep Clotet said to be in consideration.