Thomas Christiansen brought veteran Spanish striker David Barral to APOEL – but will a reunion be on the cards at Leeds United?
Thomas Christiansen
After weeks of speculation, links with almost every available tactician across the continent, Leeds United have appointed a manager whose name was largely absent from the gossip columns since Garry Monk resigned a month ago.
Thomas Christiansen, the former APOEL Nicosia coach, blew away Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani after conducting an interview in Madrid this week. So much so that the Italian immediately called off his search for a manger, as reported by the Daily Mail.
He had found his man.
A former Spain international who worked under Johan Cryuff at Barcelona, the 44-year-old’s career in the dugout is only just having made his managerial debut with AEK Lanarca as recently as 2014. Therefore, it’s fair to say the Leeds job represents a huge step up from the Cypriot top flight.
And, inevitably, talk will turn to who Christiansen will bring with him to Elland Road this summer. It surely won’t take Christiansen long to realise that Leeds are in desperate need for attacking reinforcements.
After all, while Chris Wood plundered 27 in 2016/17, no other player in Leeds’ squad got more than six.
Therefore, David Barral could be an affordable and available first target for the new man in the Elland Road hotseat. After all, Christiansen brought the Spaniard to APOEL just a few months ago and the 34-year-old is now a free agent upon the expiry of his short-term deal.
And although Barral is hardly a prolific goalscorer, netting just three in 12 in Cyprus, the former Real Madrid B forward is the kind of intelligent, crafty link-man who could get the best out of the players around him.
David Barral (L)
His relentless work ethic would also endear him to the Leeds support.
Therefore, Christiansen may be tempted to reunite with a familiar face.
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