Patrick Vieira has moved to the top of the shortlist to fill the managerial vacancy at Leeds as the club’s board conducts its final round of interviews this week.
Although Daniel Farke and Scott Parker remain in contention, Vieira appears in pole position after indicating an enthusiasm for succeeding Sam Allardyce at Elland Road. The former Arsenal and France midfielder was dismissed by Crystal Palace in March but had previously impressed at Selhurst Park and retains admirers among the Leeds hierarchy.
The only caveat is that Vieira is not a Championship promotion expert. In contrast, Farke and Parker can point to their experience of getting teams up from the second tier, with the latter having taken Fulham and Bournemouth into the Premier League and Farke twice doing so with Norwich. Parker is available after being sacked by Club Brugge in March and Farke parted company with Borussia Mönchengladbach this month.
Leeds have not followed up an initial interest in Carlos Corbéran. The former Elland Road first-team coach is managing West Brom but so far at least his former employers have not approached the Hawthorns board about activating the £2.5m release clause in the Spaniard’s contract.
Instead the focus seems to have shifted increasingly towards Vieira. Indeed it is not inconceivable that the 46-year-old – who has also previously managed New York City FC and Nice – could celebrate his 47th birthday on Friday by securing a new job in West Yorkshire.
Leeds have been without a manager since Allardyce ended a four‑game caretaker stint having failed to prevent the club’s relegation last month. They had initially hoped to recruit Brendan Rodgers but the former Liverpool and Leicester manager opted to return to Celtic.