Leeds United manager target Andoni Iraola is now close to signing a new contract with Rayo Vallecano which is set to keep him at the club until the end of next season.
That is according to a report from AS in Spain, which notes that many clubs have shown an interest in the 40-year-old, including Leeds who made a move after sacking Jesse Marsch.
Unsurprisingly, Andoni Iraola has attracted a lot of plaudits for the work he has done with Rayo. They currently sit ninth in La Liga having spent much of the campaign battling in and around the European spots in the division.
Andoni Iraola close to signing new contract after Leeds links
His work certainly brought him onto Victor Orta’s radar. As noted by AS, Leeds showed an interest when they were searching for Marsch’s replacement earlier this term.
However, Iraola decided to stay in Spain. And it now appears that he is not planning to go anywhere over the summer.
According to AS, there is growing optimism at Rayo that Iraola will extend his contract by another year. And an announcement could come soon.
This is particularly significant because the club are heading into their centenary season next term. And it appears that Iraola will remain at the helm for that.
Of course, the news is a blow for Leeds. If we are relegated, then we can forget any chance of luring someone of Iraola’s stature to Elland Road anyway.
But if we stay up, there will be optimism that the club will make an exciting appointment after two dreadful years.
Orta has now gone. So perhaps there would have been a question mark over whether we would have targeted Iraola again anyway.
But a new contract would surely close the door once and for all.