#elland-road

#elland-road

Leeds United have sacked manager Javi Gracia and appointed former England boss Sam Allardyce in a bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.Spaniard Gracia, appointed in February, has been dismissed after just 10 weeks and 12 games in charge at Elland Road.Allardyce, 68, is tasked with guiding 17th-placed Leeds, who are out of the bottom three only on goal difference, to safety with four games remaining.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, will leave Paris St-Germain at the end of the season after the French champions decided against extending his contract.Manchester United have identified three back-up options to Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, 29 - Eintracht Frankfurt's France international Randal Kolo Muani, 24, Roma's England forward Tammy Abraham, 25, and Inter Milan's Argentina international Lautaro Martinez, 25.

"Is there nobody else?"While Leeds United consider whether to appoint former England boss Sam Allardyce as their new manager, many Whites fans have been asking themselves that very question - including Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix."If the plan is developing young footballers, to create value and things like that, to then get 'Big Sam' in to play very, very basic football to keep you up just feels like it must've gone so badly wrong," the lifelong Leeds supporter told BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

6:04 AM ET



Mark OgdenSenior Writer, ESPN FC



Leeds United are set to appoint Sam Allardyce to replace Javi Gracia as manager with four Premier League games remaining in a desperate bid to avoid relegation, sources have told ESPN.Sources said Gracia, who replaced Jesse Marsch on Feb.21, was dismissed on Sunday following a five-match winless run, culminating in a 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Leeds United players say they "can't express how sorry" they are for not acknowledging fans before Sunday's defeat by Bournemouth.A video went viral on social media of Leeds players appearing to ignore fans, including a child, as they departed the team hotel prior to their
The Whites have taken just one point from their last five games and are one point above the relegation zone.

With four Premier League games remaining, the outlook for Leeds is bleak.Following a humbling 4-1 defeat by Bournemouth, Javi Gracia's side remain just a point above the drop zone and with relegation rivals Leicester and Everton playing on Monday night, even that slender cushion is about to disappear.

(Image credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal are set to launch a shock bid for a Leeds United star, according to reports.The Gunners have raided Premier League clubs successfully of late.January's transfer window saw manager Mikel Arteta pivot away from Mykhaylo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo to bring in Leandro Trossard of Brighton & Hove Albion and Jorginho of Chelsea with both providing instant impacts.

Scandal-hit Manchester City capitalised on Arsenal's hiccup at Brentford to close the gap on the Gunners to within three points at the top of the Premier League table.lsewhere, the pressure ramped up on Antonio Conte after Tottenham were thumped at Leicester while time ran out for Nathan Jones, whose short reign at Southampton ended a day after defeat to 10-man Wolves.

United could move level on points with Manchester City with a win against the Yorkshire club, who sacked manager Jesse Marsch on Monday.It is the first of a double-header against Leeds, with the reverse fixture at Elland Road coming up on Sunday.Ten Hag saw his side beat Crystal Palace on Saturday but has already lost the services of Casemiro following his red card, a decision United will not appeal.

Fabrizio Romano has responded to the recent Chelsea transfer rumours linking them with Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier.The 23-year-old has shone in his time at Elland Road and it wouldn't be too surprising if he ended up making a big move soon, especially as Chelsea could do with sorting out their goalkeeper situation.

Just when you thought Liverpool were back...they weren't.The past couple of weeks has epitomised the Reds' mightily frustrating 2022/23 campaign which will culminate in no silverware and the possibility of entering an undesirable UEFA competition.It's top four or bust for Jurgen Klopp's side in the wake of their Champions League exit.

Rayo Vallecano have blocked Leeds United's approach for manager Andoni Iraola, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has told BBC Sport.Iraola, 40, has guided the Madrid side to fifth in this season, three points off the Champions League places.He oversaw two victories against Barcelona last term and in November they beat champions Real Madrid 3-2 .

Manchester United scored twice in the final 10 minutes at Elland Road to leave managerless Leeds deep in relegation trouble.Substitute Alejandro Garnacho then outpaced the home defence before beating Illan Meslier at his near post to the obvious joy of manager Erik ten Hag on the touchline.The result was harsh on Leeds, who created a number of decent opportunities but could not beat visiting goalkeeper David de Gea.

Liverpool have joined the race to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli.The 24-year-old Nigeria forward is also wanted by Manchester United.New Everton manager Sean Dyche has made it a priority that England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, 28, signs a new contract at the club.Tottenham face being without Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur for six or seven months after the 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in the defeat by Leicester City on Saturday.

Former Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder is no longer in contention to become the new Leeds United boss.The 50-year-old Dutchman was one of a number of possible short-term candidates in contention for the role.Schreuder watched Sunday's 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Elland Road and had been shown around the club, including the training ground.

Caretaker manager Michael Skubala will remain in charge of Leeds United's "upcoming fixtures," including this weekend's match at relegation rivals Everton, the club said on Tuesday.No head coach has been announced since Jesse Marsch was sacked last week.- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is expected to make a bid of more than £4bn for Manchester United by Friday's deadline.Leicester have stepped up contract talks with midfielder James Maddison, 26, as the England international approaches the last 12 months of his current deal.

It was a double header not seen in my lifetime but this was the second time the Roses Derby would be played in the space of 4 days.After the helter skelter treat we got at Old Trafford, the game at Elland Road was much more attritional.Until Rashford headed in from Shaw's cross, there was very little quality in the attacking phase for both teams.

Sign up to Miguel Delaney's Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel's Delaney's free weekly newsletter Leeds head coach Javi Gracia insists club record signing Georginio Rutter is a pleasure to work with and needs more time to settle in at Elland Road.The France Under-21s striker has started in only three of his eight appearances for Leeds and has yet to score his first goal since arriving from Hoffenheim in January.

Ruben Selles has been appointed Southampton manager until the end of the season.The Premier League's bottom club sacked Nathan Jones after just 95 days in charge earlier this month, having dismissed Ralph Hasenhuttl in November.Selles' appointment comes after talks with former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch broke down .

Leeds moved out of the Premier League relegation zone as Junior Firpo's second-half goal gave them a crucial 1-0 victory over bottom club Southampton in Javi Gracia's first game as manager.In a tense and frantic match, left-back Firpo found himself in space in the box after Jack Harrison's flick to slot home under Gavin Bazunu and send Elland Road into raptures - and his team towards a priceless three points.

In a season in which many of their decisions could be accused of lacking sense, Leeds had a glimpse on Saturday of what a little clear-headed practicality can bring.Junior Firpo's solitary second-half goal was enough to see off a stubborn Southampton and provide a vital three points that lift the Whites out of the Premier League's bottom three.

The Red Devils claimed a vital 2-0 win at Elland Road just as it looked like their top-four place would be coming under increasing threat by more dropped points against relegation-threatened Leeds, fresh off their midweek draw at Old Trafford.Man United started slowly in both halves in that game and were guilty again here, allowing Crysencio Summerville to fire over just four minutes in as the Yorkshire club were backed by a raucous home support.

News Leeds new manager Javi Gracia says he "didn't have any doubt" about joining the club, despite their involvement in a relegation battle.The 52-year-old was appointed on Tuesday to success Jesse Marsch."I was waiting for something in the Premier League and it's something I'm excited for," Gracia said.

Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie will fly into Leeds on Monday to complete his move to Elland Road.It is anticipated McKennie, 24, will sign a loan deal, but that could turn into a permanent transfer.The USA international has made 15 Serie A appearances for Juventus this season, scoring one goal and assisting another.

Leeds boss Jesse Marsch is poised to unleash an arsenal of attacking players on the Premier League in his bid to avoid another relegation battle.The Whites broke their club record transfer fee last week when signing striker Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim in a deal which could rise to 36million.The France Under-21 international will be in Leeds' squad for Sunday's home league game against Brentford, with Marsch to decide who to choose from an exciting array of forward talent.

Leeds United's winless run in the Premier League extended to six games as they were held to a frustrating draw by Brentford.Jesse Marsch's side had the better chances and forced Brentford goalkeeper David Raya into several good saves at Elland Road.Teenager Wilfried Gnonto, fresh from his double in the FA Cup win over Cardiff on Wednesday, had the best opening but his effort was kept out by Raya.

Mateusz Klich is set to leave Leeds and move to a club in America's MLS after making a tearful goodbye at Elland Road on Wednesday.The midfielder has agreed with the Whites for his contract to be cancelled in order to facilitate the deal, with DC United the reported destination.Klich received a guard of honour from team-mates wearing T-shirts bearing his image after the 2-2 draw with West Ham.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch said he joked with Manchester City star Erling Haaland "permission" to have a small hamstring injury when the two sides face each other on Dec. 28.Striker Haaland, who is the Premier League top scorer, was born in Leeds when his father Alfie Haaland played for the club before he himself joined City in 2000.

Leeds boss Jesse Marsch says he "hates the stress" that comes with being a Premier League manager.The 49-year-old has been in charge at Elland Road for just over 10 months, having succeeded Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February last year.Leeds secured top-flight survival on the final day of last season and are currently 14th in the table - two points clear of the relegation places.

MK Dons have named Leeds United coach Mark Jackson as their new boss.The 45-year-old replaces Liam Manning, who was sacked on 11 December  with the team next to bottom of League One.His first game in charge will be at home to Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day, followed by trips to Peterborough United and current leaders Plymouth.