West Ham United are showing an interest in Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola just months after Leeds United interest.
That is according to a report from Cadena SER and Paco Delgado, who claim that West Ham are keen on Iraola.
Delgado claims that Rayo Vallecano want to sort out a new deal for Iraola very soon.
West Ham will hope to tempt Iraola way though as they consider replacing David Moyes this summer.
“West Ham want Iraola. Rayo want to sit down with him this week, to renew his deal, but the Premier League side want him, based on his record at Rayo,” said Delgado, as translated by Football Espana.
Moyes looks set to keep West Ham in the Premier League and has now reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
That isn’t quite the progress West Ham fans wanted this season though and Moyes may well part ways with the Hammers very soon.
Managers like Paulo Fonseca and even Xabi Alonso have been linked of late but now Iraola is another name on the radar.
Leeds United wanted Andoni Iraola
Leeds appeared to be pushing to make Iraola their new manager after sacking Jesse Marsch in February.
The Daily Mail’s reported that Rayo refused to give Leeds permission to speak to Iraola.
Rayo wouldn’t even speak about his departure unless Leeds paid his £7million release clause, which didn’t happen.
Onda Cero also noted that Iraola had rejected Leeds through intermediaries as Victor Orta chased his fellow Spaniard.
Leeds may still fancy Iraola; Javi Gracia hardly seems like the long-term answer for the Whites.
Rayo sit ninth in the La Liga table and continue to punch above their weight under Iraola.
The former Athletic Club right back worked under Marcelo Bielsa as a player and you can certainly see the Argentinian’s influence in Iraola’s tactics.
Iraola is an exciting young coach at just 40 but if Leeds were hoping to get a summer deal done, they will now face competition from West Ham.
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