Former England international Darren Bent would ‘back Leeds United to stay up’ if the Premier League strugglers replaced Jesse Marsch with former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, speaking to talkSPORT (15 February, 4.15pm).
Well, a lesser-spotted ‘job swap’ would certainly make that late-February six-pointer between the Whites and The Saints at Elland Road rather interesting viewing.
Just one week after losing his job in West Yorkshire, The Guardian say that Marsch has agreed to take over at Southampton.
There are few suggestions, at this stage, that Hasenhuttl could move in the other direction. But former Tottenham, Sunderland and Aston Villa striker Bent feels that a Leeds side with just two Premier League wins since late-August could do a lot worse.
Would Leeds swap Jesse Marsch for Ralph Hasenhuttl?
“I like Ralph. I really like Ralph,” Bent says of the 55-year-old Austrian, out of work since November.
“When you look at Ralph’s record (at Southampton), and the things he had to deal with in that time… He lost people like Danny Ings, his goalscorer. (Jannick) Vestergaard, (Pierre-Emile) Hojbjerg. Good players! And the investment that came into these players wasn’t really there.
“He lost key players and he still kept them afloat.
“I think, if you’re Leeds and you get Ralph, I’d be happy. I’d back Leeds to stay up (under Hasenhuttl).”
Leeds confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that interim coach Michael Skubala will remain in charge for the foreseeable future; the club having been rebuffed by their leading managerial targets over the course of a humbling week.
Skubala has, at least, overseen an upturn in performance. Leeds were excellent for large spells in the 2-2 midweek draw at Old Trafford, and missed their fair share of chances before Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho struck late on Sunday.
Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot, both at the top of Victor Orta’s wishlist, opted to stay put at Feyenoord and Rayo Vallecano respectively. Talks with former Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder also broke down.
Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, reportedly turned down a return to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.
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