Tony Dorigo believes the transfers of Maximilian Wober and Weston McKennie could make Leeds United ‘really attractive’ for managers. But the hunt for Jesse Marsch’s heir persists.
The Elland Road outfit sacked Marsch last Monday after less than a year in charge with the club fighting relegation. He guided the West Yorkshire natives to survival last season after replacing Marcelo Bielsa. But the 49-year-old left with the team down in 17th in the table.
Leeds backed Marsch in the January transfer window with deals for Wober, McKennie and Georginio Rutter. They signed Wober from RB Salzburg for £10m, rising to £14m after add-ons. While McKennie arrived on loan from Juventus and Rutter left Hoffenheim for £36m.
Rutter’s arrival marked a club-record outlay for Leeds, while Wober’s arrival represented a reunion with Marsch. The American had worked with the centre-half at RB Salzburg during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. Yet he only had six matches with the Austrian at Leeds.
Caretaker boss Michael Skubala will now hope Wober, Rutter and McKennie help him lead Leeds up the Premier League table. The Whites have given their U21 coach the first-team reigns until further notice following two positive performances against Manchester United.
Dorigo believes Wober and McKennie will make Leeds attractive to managers
The search for Marsch’s permanent replacement continues, though. The Daily Mail reports that Nuno Espirito Santo, Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister are all now options to be the next Leeds manager. While Alfred Schreuder is the latest candidate to fall out of their race.
Dorigo believes Marsch’s transfers for Wober and McKennie, in particular, can make Leeds attractive to ‘big name’ managers, though. The pair have helped to round out a promising side at Elland Road. There are also plenty of positives in the near future to entice coaches.
“The squad that we’ve got, the incoming players now give us some real attacking threat up top,” Dorigo wrote in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Wober coming in, more solid; McKennie in midfield – suddenly the squad and our bench is looking good.
“With the future of the club looking really bright, as well, a lot of investment hopefully not too far around the corner then you think, actually: ‘This is a really attractive place to come and why not go for a big name manager?’ But, of course, that brings its own problems.”
Whoever replaces Marsch as the next manager of Leeds must secure their Premier League status to secure the bright future Dorigo envisages. De Telegraaf reports 49ers Enterprises will complete their takeover of the club on July 1. But only if they are still in the top-flight.
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