Leeds United head coach Garry Monk could be a wanted man with his future yet to be resolved.
Southampton manager Claude Puel
The Mirror reports (2 May, page 50) that Claude Puel’s future as Southampton manager in doubt and it’s plausible to think it could lead to destruction 250 miles away at Leeds United.
After the season Leeds have had – ignoring the Whites’ end-of-season tail-off – one would expect head coach Garry Monk to feature on the shortlist of any Premier League club seeking a change in that department, not least with his Elland Road contract yet to be extended beyond the end of the campaign.
The Sun on Sunday reported this weekend that Monk’s position was itself under threat, with new co-owner Andrea Radrizzani eyeing an overseas appointment. And given that he’s yet to be rewarded for a season in which all expectation was surpassed, one could forgive the former Swansea boss for wanting to explore any opportunity that may come his way.
An approach from Southampton would perhaps be doubly appealing to Monk, having spent eight years a Saints player, and is unlikely to stop with the 38-year-old.
Leeds United manager Garry Monk
Monk’s long-time assistant Pep Clotet, the man credited by Leeds’ players for fixing their defensive issues this season, would surely follow him to St Mary’s, as would first-team coach James Beattie, who is a club legend on the south coast.
And it would be little surprise if Monk also came calling for either of Leeds’ impressive centre-back pairing, Kyle Bartley or Pontus Jansson – the latter of whom has already been linked with a move to Southampton – with Virgil van Dijk expected to leave the Saints.
Leeds United’s Pontus Jansson in action (right)
Leeds fans will hope Southampton have other ideas…
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