Aitor Karanka allegedly isn’t the first choice for the Leeds United job.
Ex-Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
According to Sky Sports, Aitor Karanka is not the leading contender for the Leeds United job despite being the favourite with bookmakers.
It’s now a week since Leeds saw manager Garry Monk leave his position as Leeds manager in abrupt fashion, handing in his resignation despite the club’s attempts to keep him at Elland Road.
Garry Monk
Monk could walk into a job elsewhere this summer, and his departure leaves owner Andrea Radrizzani with his first big decision, as the club pursue a new manager.
As compiled by Oddschecker, Spaniard Aitor Karanka is the favourite for the job with bookmakers, and has been ever since Monk’s departure – but it seems that he may not be the first choice after all.
Aitor Karanka
Sky Sports claimed this afternoon that Karanka isn’t the favourite for the job in reality, with Leeds seemingly eyeing up other managers ahead of the former Middlesbrough boss.
Many expected that Karanka, 43, would walk into the Elland Road hot seat given that Victor Orta – his transfer guru at Middlesbrough, the club he left in March – was appointed as Leeds’ new Director of Football earlier this week.
Former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri
However, Karanka, who took Middlesbrough to the Premier League in 2016 following a 2015 Championship play-off final defeat to Norwich, isn’t believed to be first choice, with Leeds possibly looking elsewhere.
It’s unclear just where Leeds would turn if Karanka isn’t their first choice, but bookmakers also have Claudio Ranieri, Simon Grayson and Monk’s assistant Pep Clotet in the mix, with Radrizzani facing a big decision.
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