Manager Leeds United wanted before Daniel Farke now on radar of multiple European heavyweights – Report

VaselineMay 8, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Manager Leeds United wanted before Daniel Farke now on radar of multiple European heavyweights – Report

Soccer Football – Champions League – Chelsea Training – Cobham Training Centre, Cobham, Britain – March 6, 2023 Chelsea manager Graham Potter during training Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Leeds United were very keen on appointing Graham Potter as their new manager in the summer before moving for Daniel Farke, but he is now being targeted by Ajax and multiple other high-end clubs.

Daniel Farke was the first managerial appointment by the 49ers after completing their takeover of the club following relegation from the Premier League.

With a proven track record of winning the Championship title twice at Norwich City with a considerably weaker squad than this Leeds one, Farke stood out to the board, but he wasn’t the first name on their shortlist.

Graham Potter was Leeds’ priority target before Farke – Phil Hay

The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealed recently that while Leeds and Farke feel comfortable with the position the German has managed this season, he wasn’t the first name the club looked at.

That was Graham Potter, formerly of Chelsea after being sacked last season, with the Blues churning through managers and players under Todd Boehly.

Speaking on The Square Ball podcast, Hay said this about Leeds and Potter:

“Last summer the 49ers were really big on Graham Potter, but couldn’t really get Potter into a position where he was ready to discuss the deal with them.

“Part of the reason for that was he had just come out of Chelsea, he’d had a bad time after doing really well at Brighton, so his stock was high and he saw himself as a Premier League coach.

“There’s no point saying ‘we should have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse’, ‘we should do X, Y and Z’, because there are some coaches you just can’t get.”

Who will win the playoffs?

Graham Potter now wanted by Ajax and others – Report

Now, if the 49ers had any lingering interest in appointing Potter further down the line, they may not have the chance.

The Telegraph is reporting that the 48-year-old “tactician” is well appreciated across Europe having been out of work for 13 months, mainly by Ajax who are looking for a long-term managerial appointment.

Ajax’s Dutch rivals Feyenoord are also in the market for a new manager with Arne Slot heading to Liverpool, while AC Milan could also pull the trigger on Stefano Pioli after an underwhelming campaign in Italy.

FC Porto are also in the market too if Sérgio Conceição is to leave the Portuguese outfit too.

Leeds have no chance with Potter at this rate

If there was any chance that we’d be seeing the end of Farke’s time at the club any time soon, it looks as though we won’t have much luck with Potter.

He’s worked in Leeds before at Leeds Beckett University, so there might be some romantic connection to the city, but with these names calling, it’s a no-brainer.

Potter is good enough to be a Champions League coach, and it’s clear these top clubs don’t hold his Chelsea stint against him.

Quiz: Has Patrick Bamford scored more or less Leeds United goals than these 15 former players?

Has Bamford scored more or less for Leeds than Jack Charlton?

START THE QUIZ!

VaselineMay 8, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Graham Potter was Leeds’ priority target before Farke – Phil Hay

Who will win the playoffs?

Graham Potter now wanted by Ajax and others – Report

Leeds have no chance with Potter at this rate

Quiz: Has Patrick Bamford scored more or less Leeds United goals than these 15 former players?

Has Bamford scored more or less for Leeds than Jack Charlton?

Vaseline

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