The former Middlesbrough boss does not believe Thomas Christiansen’s Leeds United side will finish higher than Garry Monk’s.
Aitor Karanka is tipping Leeds United for another play-off near miss this coming campaign.
Leeds finished seventh under Garry Monk last season, but the 38-year-old has since quit Elland Road for Middlesbrough – Karanka’s old club.
The Basque coach left The Riverside Stadium in March this year, and was among the early favourites to take the Leeds reins after Monk’s departure.
Former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
The Whites eventually plumped for little-known Danish boss Thomas Christiansen, while Karanka, who continues to reside in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, remains without a club.
And despite his belief that Leeds are more organised under new sole owner Andrea Radrizzani, Karanka reckons United need time to improve.
“Leeds is a massive club which belongs to the Premier League,” the former Middlesbrough boss told The Sun. “But it is a club that needs a little bit of time.
“The change of owner has been good for them, they are a bit more organised. But I don’t think they will be fighting for the play-offs, just outside of it in seventh or eighth.
“(Ezgjan) Alioski (who Karanka names as Leeds’ ‘best buy’) is a winger who I like and I think will have an impact in the league, while if Chris Wood can keep up his level from last year he will be key.”
Leeds have added eight new faces during the summer transfer window, while also tying up permanent deals for loan players Hadi Sacko and Pontus Jansson.
Leeds United centre-back Pontus Jansson
Much of the Whites business has been facilitated by their newly-appointed director of football Victor Orta, who worked closely with Karanka at Middlesbrough.
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