LEEDS UNITED are on the brink of naming former Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder as Jesse Marsch’s successor and bring a halt to the irritating noises linking Ange Postecoglou with the Elland Road post.
The Celtic gaffer’s name was pitched into the list of possible candidates for the job a week ago when the American coach was sacked less than a year in the Yorkshire club’s dug-out.
Postecoglou has emphasised all along his dedicated focus is on the champions and insisted: “If anyone thinks for the last seven days I’ve thought about anything but preparing the team to play today then obviously they haven’t got a clear idea of what I’m about,” as CQN reported yesterday.
A BIG HAND…Ange Postecoglou applauds new Bhoy Oh Hyeon0gyu’s first goal for Celtic in the 5-1 Scottish Cup win over St Mirren at Parkhead at the weekend.
Leeds have held initial talks with Schreuder and the 50-year-old Dutchman was in the stand to watch the relegation-threatened club’s 2-0 home loss to Manchester United yesterday, according to a BBC report.
He replaced Old Trafford chief Erik ten Hag at the Amsterdam giants in the summer, but was sacked last month after a seven-game winless run.
Postecoglou has shown absolutely no interest in what is happening across the border while Feyenoord’s Arne Slot ruled himself out while an approach for Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola was blocked.
No doubt the Hoops gaffer will be one of an avalanche of names put forward for the Southampton managerial job that became vacant yesterday when Nathan Jones was axed after only three months at the south coast outfit.
The beleugured boss got the boot following the loss to 10-man Wolves which left the Saints bottom of the Premier League.
Jones lost nine of 14 matches after signing a three-and-a-half year contract when he took over from Ralph Hasenhuttl in November.
One manager already put forward as a possible successor is Marsch, late of Leeds United.
