Here are the latest Leeds United headlines for Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Sam Allardyce meeting
Leeds United will hold a meeting with Sam Allardyce on Thursday to discuss his role at the club. Allardyce oversaw the final four games of the season following Javi Gracia's sacking, but was unable to prevent the Whites being relegated from the Premier League.
However, according to the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman, it is 'unlikely' he will stay on as head coach, with the Leeds United hierarchy preferring other options. Allardyce had suggested he would be open to staying on and helping the club out of the Championship, subject to discussions with the club.
Former Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has been linked with the role, as has former Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola.
READ MORE: Andrea Radrizzani told of £300m Leeds United takeover blow after relegation
Radrizzani Sampdoria statement
Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani has opened up on his delight after striking a deal for the purchase of Sampdoria. Radrizzani has been in Italy over the last couple of weeks, trying to thrash out a deal to buy the Genoa-based club, who have been relegated from Serie A this season.
The Whites owner, who has been working alongside business partner Matteo Manfredi of Gestio Capital, had reportedly seen two bids rejected to buy Sampdoria, but the news came through on Tuesday evening that an agreement has been reached. Sampdoria risked bankruptcy if a takeover was not completed, with deadlines for certain debts to paid being put in place at the end of this month.
However, the deal has been confirmed by the club and Radrizzani has chosen to comment.
"Now we can say it,” Radrizzani is quoted as saying in a Gestio Capital press release. “It was a real battle, but we can finally say we made it.
“We are nothing short of enthusiastic to be able to announce that we have completed the acquisition of this extraordinary club. The history and the Sampdoria coat of arms are safe and I think my happiness is that of all the people who were suffering for these colours. My thanks right now go above all to all those people who worked tirelessly to ensure that this agreement found a just conclusion and in particular I have to thank Matteo (Manfredi) and the lawyer De Gennaro without them none of this would have been possible. From today we move on and I personally can't wait to get to work.”
Iraola leaves Rayo Vallecano
Former Leeds United managerial target Andoni Iraola has announced his intention to leave Rayo Vallecano at the end of the current season. Iraola will take charge of Sunday’s game against Mallorca with a top half finish up for grabs, before leaving the club in pursuit of pastures new.
His decision comes after being pinpointed as Leeds’ chief head coach target following the sacking of Jesse Marsch back in February. Iraola stayed at Vallecano, who were pushing for a spot in Europe at the time, with Leeds opting to appoint his compatriot Javi Gracia in their bid to secure survival.
Vallecano’s form dipped somewhat after Leeds’ interest in the 40-year-old coach, with the Madrid-based outfit winning just four more games prior to this Sunday’s finale. Iraola, though, has called time on his three-season spell with the club, in which he managed to win promotion from the second tier and establish the club in the top flight.
His next step is currently unknown and it remains to be seen whether Leeds, who parted ways with sporting director Victor Orta at the start of May, will pursue him as they look for a man to lead them back to the Premier League.
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