Leeds United have warned that Championship promotion rivals could improve on Leicester City’s results

Former Newcastle United and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has distanced himself from links with the Burnley vacancy – but says the Clarets are in a great position to win promotion back to the Premier League.

The Turf Moor club are set to be one of Leeds United’s biggest rivals next season, with Daniel Farke’s men looking to claw their way back into the top flight after missing out on the Championship play-off final last month. Latics, however, are looking for a new manager after Vincent Kompany left to join Bayern Munich.

They are looking to make a quick appointment so their pre-season preparations are not adversely affected, while Pardew and former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard are among those linked with the role. Pardew has been coy about those links but has given his verdict on the Burnley squad.

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His rating is something Daniel Farke and Co will no doubt be fully aware of, with newly relegated Sheffield United and Luton Town also in the mix when it comes to their chances of early promotion.

“Well, obviously it’s not me, otherwise it would have been officially announced,” Pardew said of the Burnley links. “It’s nice to be connected to them, if nothing else.

“I think the squad is good enough, the ownership is well organized and they have the finances – maybe they’re in a better position than Leicester were last year to come back. So I think whoever gets the job will be great. For me, it’s a big challenge that I’d like to do because I’d like to take a team back to the Prem.

“We’ve done it, we’ve prepared teams to go back to the Prem – West Ham, Southampton. So yes, I would be open. Whether that’s known and that’s the rumor that got around rather than the actual connection, I don’t know.”

As well as Newcastle and Palace, Pardew has also managed Charlton, Reading, West Ham, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, although he has not worked in English football since leaving the Baggies in 2018. He has also had spells abroad in Holland , Bulgaria and Greece. .

Leeds will find out their Championship fixture list later this month, with the 2024-25 EFL schedule announced at 9am on Wednesday 26 June.