Leeds United have reportedly prepared a contingency plan for if Marcelo Bielsa decides to leave the club this summer.
That is according to the Daily Telegraph, who claim that Victor Orta has drawn up a three-man shortlist containing Ernesto Valverde, Jesse Marsch and Carlos Corberan.
Bielsa’s future beyond the current season remains uncertain due to his desire to only sign one-year rolling contracts.
The 66-year-old is currently in the midst of arguably his toughest campaign at Elland Road, with the Whites on the periphery of a Premier League relegation battle.
So after the Telegraph’s latest update on the managerial situation, here is a look at the three names who have been linked with the job if Bielsa opts against signing another extension.
Ernesto Valverde
Valverde is perhaps the most high-profile name on the three-man list and is most well known for his recent stint at Barcelona.
He spent three years managing at the Camp Nou, where he won four major honours, including two consecutive La Liga titles.
But prior to his appointment in Catalunya, Valverde’s management career had already spanned 16 years.
He spent time in charge of Athletic Bilbao’s B team, which allowed him to transition into the same role with the first team.
The 57-year-old then had spells at Espanyol, Olympiacos, Villarreal, Olympiacos again, Valencia and then back to Athletic Bilbao – which was the club where he built a very strong reputation.
Jesse Marsch
Marsch has been out of the management game for just over two months following his sacking from RB Leipzig in December.
The 48-year-old struggled significantly during his time at the German side, winning just seven of his 20 matches in charge.
However, in the years prior to his appointment at Leipzig, Marsch steadily built himself up an impressive reputation in the management game.
He initially spent time at MLS sides Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls, before then working under current Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick as an assistant at Leipzig.
After impressing in that role, he then became the manager of Red Bull’s other European side Salzburg, where he won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and two Austrian Cups.
Carlos Corberan
This man won’t need much explaining to Leeds supporters after the impressive work he did at the club prior to his appointment at Huddersfield Town.
Corberan was initially handed the role of under-23s manager at the Whites, where he did an excellent job.
He helped transform the style of play in that side, and as a result then became an assistant to the first team when Bielsa arrived at the club.
The 38-year-old played an important part in helping Leeds win promotion to the Premier League, before then immediately moving on to current side Huddersfield.
He struggled in his first season at the Terriers but has performed excellently this term with Town currently sat fifth in the Championship on one of the smallest budgets in the league.
