A look at the latest Leeds United headlines on Tuesday, May 9.
Victor Orta linked with quick return to football
Former Leeds United chief, Victor Orta, could be set for an immediate return to the world of football. The former Whites sporting director is reportedly one of several candidates that could take charge at Sevilla.
That’s according to reports in Spain, Estadio Deportivo, who are adamant the former Leeds chief is not the clear frontrunner for the position should Monchi depart. Orta is widely expected to return to his native homeland but will face competition from former captain Fernando Navarro and Antonio Cordon.
Sevilla has been dubbed the most viable club in Spain for Orta to tee up a return, but the deal is far from complete. The ex-Leeds chief left the club by mutual consent last week, with manager Javi Gracia also departing.
Georginio Rutter provides food for thought as Leeds United U21s seal play-off final spot
Georginio Rutter provided a glimpse of what he could offer Sam Allardyce’s Leeds United in the battle for survival on Monday night after dropping down to feature for the Under-21s. The record signing was named in the young Whites’ starting line-up at Elland Road and helped them progress to the Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off final with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins, who have been in fine goal scoring form all season, grabbed the goals for United to set up the final against Nottingham Forest. However, Rutter played his part in front of almost 4,000 supporters and Allardyce was in attendance.
Rutter has thoroughly underwhelmed since making the £35 million move to Leeds from Hoffenheim in January and his game time has been severely restricted as a result. He has made 10 Premier League appearances but just one has been a start and he has been left unused in six of United’s last nine league games.
Sam Allardyce leaning on Leeds United father figure to plot recovery path from broken morale
Fatherly care and attention are Illan Meslier’s route out of his current Leeds United rut. The 23-year-old was bombed out of the starting line-up on form grounds for the first time since his league debut in 2020 at the weekend.
Sam Allardyce was blunt and honest in his assessment of the situation. Meslier’s confidence was through the floor after weeks of mistakes and concessions, meaning he had to be taken out of the firing line at Manchester City.
Allardyce was then complimentary of the way replacement Joel Robles played, further intimating there was little chance of the Spaniard now being taken back out of the team anytime soon. Meslier could well be done for the season now.
Ex-Tottenham boss backs Leeds United to clinch Premier League survival with final day win over Spurs
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has backed Leeds United to beat Spurs at Elland Road on the final day of the season to stay in the Premier League.
Sitting above 18th placed Nottingham Forest on goal difference alone, Leeds have Man City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham left to play this term. The results in those games will define whether or not the Whites maintain their top-flight status in the 2023/24 season.
Although they are not the easiest fixtures on paper, Sherwood believes that Sam Allardyce's side can reach safety against his old side on May 28, with former Leeds manager Simon Grayson also pointing to the same fixture as the one that could define the season for the Whites.
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