Suggestions that Nuno Espirito Santo could head back to the Premier League with Leeds United have been put to bed, Al-Ittihad chief Anmar Al-Haili telling Sada Al-Mulaeb that the former Wolves and Tottenham coach is in line for a new contract.
Earlier this week, West Brom wasted no time in bringing an end to speculation linking Carlos Corberan with a return to Elland Road. The Spaniard signed a new deal, just months after taking over from Steve Bruce at the Hawthorns.
Al-Ittihad, it seems, are taking a similar approach with Nuno too.
They say ‘out of sight, out of mind’. But that’s certainly not the case with the 49-year-old Portuguese; Nuno linked frequently with Premier League jobs despite leaving England and even Europe last year.
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Nuno was reportedly a candidate for Everton before Sean Dyche’s arrival. Wolves, meanwhile, made contact with Al-Ittihad regarding the former Molinuex boss, before turning their focus to Julen Lopetegui.
The Daily Mirror (8 February, page 52) believes that Nuno is now a candidate to replace Jesse Marsch at Elland Road; albeit not one of the early frontrunners.
But according to Al-Haili, chairman of the board of directors at Al-Ittihad, Nuno is here to stay.
“Coach Santo is continuing. All that is said about his departure are just rumours. His contract will be renewed. And our focus is only on the field,” he says.
“Al-Ittihad is a great club. And it is a legitimate right for our fans to want to win all possible trophies.”
Nuno’s Al-Ittihad are third in the Saudi Pro League. Level on points with league leaders and recent recipients of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr.
With Corberan and Nuno now seemingly out of contention, Leeds could step up their pursuit of Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola and Feyenoord tactician Arne Slot. Director Victor Orta, according to the Mail, has already jetted out to Spain in order to hold talks with 40-year-old Iraola.
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