Sam Allardyce is in the frame for a dramatic return to management with Leeds United strongly considering turning to the former England boss to rescue their season.
Allardyce has emerged as a leading contender to take over at Elland Road with current head coach Javi Gracia increasingly likely to be sacked on the back of Leeds’ 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday.
United are staring relegation in the face after taking one point from their past five matches and they dropped to 17th place tonight following Leicester City’s 2-2 draw with Everton.
Gracia has been in charge of Leeds for only two months, appointed in February as successor to Jesse Marsch on an initial deal to the end of the term, but a weak display at Bournemouth and a severe downturn in form appears to have spelled the end of his time in the post.
Allardyce, 68, has been out of management for almost two years since his last role at West Bromwich Albion.
He accepted the challenge of rescuing West Brom during the 2020-21 season but was unable to save the club from relegation.
Allardyce and current Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear know each other from their time working at West Ham United and the decline under Gracia has left United desperate for points from the four matches that remain, starting away at Premier League leaders Manchester City this Saturday.
Gracia officially remains in a job at present with Leeds’ players due to report back for training on Tuesday morning but the board at Elland Road have spent the past 24 hours considering their next move.
Doubt also surrounds the future of director of football Victor Orta amid suggestions that the Spaniard’s position is under threat following a second successive relegation battle.
GO DEEPER
Leeds United look cooked – will they roll the dice on Javi Gracia?
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