Former West Brom manager in ‘advanced talks’ to take over at Leeds United

Former West Bromwich Albion boss Sam Allardyce is being lined up to replace Javi Gracia as Leeds United manager with just four games remaining of the Premier League season.

Gracia was appointed as Leeds boss in January, with the hope the Spaniard would guide the Yorkshire club away from relegation, but despite a positve start, which included wins over fellow strugglers Southampton and Nottingham Forest, Leeds have lost four of their last five league games, conceding the most goals ever in a calendar month in the process.

Leeds are out of the drop zone on goal difference alone, but their pitiful form has set off widespread alarm bells at Elland Road and reports now suggest they could now turn to former Albion boss Sam Allardyce for the last four games of the campaign. Leeds face Manchester City and West Ham United away from home, as well as Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road in their remaining league fixtures this season as they battle to avoid the drop.

The Guardian has reported that Leeds are close to formalising an agreement for Allardyce to take over at the club.

The Leeds board may be looking towards Allardyce to shore up the team’s leaky defene. The Dudley-born manager has a track record for keeping relegation-threatened teams in the league with his defensive style of play. But the 68-year-old’s last managerial job came in 2021 when he was relegated from the Premier League with the Baggies.

Despite picking up some notable results, such as a memorable 5–2 away victory against Chelsea, he was unable to keep West Brom in the Premier League, as they were relegated to the Championship following a 3–1 away defeat against Arsenal. This marked Allardyce’s first relegation from the Premier League in his career.

Albion’s current boss Carlos Corberán was also linked with taking over at Elland Road when Jesse Marsch was sacked in February. Corberan is rated highly in Leeds after working with the academy and under Marcelo Bielsa during the Argentine’s time at the club, but those rumors were put to bed when Corberan signed a contract extension which will see him remain at The Hawthorns 2027.