Would Leeds United consider re-signing Max Gradel if Simon Grayson returns to Elland Road?
According to The Daily Mail, Simon Grayson would be very interested in taking the Leeds United job for a second time.
Thomas Christiansen is under pressure at Elland Road after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at home to Cardiff City left United seven points adrift of the top six and, in this form, you can only see that gap getting wider and wider.
The former Sunderland and Preston boss was sacked at Leeds in 2012 after three years in charge, but his return would excite plenty of Whites fans – and so too would the re-signing of one of his former favourites.
Max Gradel previously scored 25 league goals for United and won their Player of the Year award in 2010-11 as Grayson’s side narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.
The 30-year-old winger probably doesn’t have a long-term future at Bournemouth, who loaned him to Toulouse during the summer, but six goals in 14 Ligue 1 starts suggests that he can still be a menace.
Leeds have been crying out for a top-drawer alternative to Egzjan Alioski, who hasn’t scored or set up a goal for the Yorkshire side in any of his last nine Championship games from right wing. Hadi Sacko and Pawel Cibicki are his only competition, which is a major problem in itself.
The Ivory Coast international is arguably Grayson’s biggest transfer success during his time at Elland Road, and Gradel, valued at £6.3 million by the Cherries according to Transfermarkt, would certainly add a bit of dynamism to a Leeds attack which has looked far too stale far too often this season.
Of course, Grayson’s return is nothing but a rumour for now, but if it does have legs then the 48-year-old – sacked by Sunderland this season – should certainly consider his former gem.
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