Corberan could now return to Leeds as Bielsa succession plan emerges before Everton clash

Leeds United are still hopeful that Marcelo Bielsa will stay on for a fifth season as manager but they reportedly have three alternatives lined up if not.

The 66-year-old has been a hugely influential figure at Elland Road since arriving in 2018, inspiring the Whites back into the Premier League and playing some wonderful football along the way.

Bielsa only signed a one-year extension last summer, however, meaning his contract is set to expire at the end of this season.

It remains unknown whether or not the Argentine will again extend his stay at Leeds but an important update has emerged in the build-up to Saturday’s six-pointer against Everton.

According to The Telegraph, Jesse Marsch, Ernesto Valverde and Carlos Corberan are the three managers being looked at as potential replacements for Bielsa.

Marsch was sacked as RB Leipzig’s boss back in December, Valverde has been without a club since leaving Barcelona in 2020 and Corberan is a young and upcoming manager currently impressing at Huddersfield Town, steering them into the Championship playoff positions.

Fans will also be familiar with Corberan already – he coached the under-23 side at Thorp Arch for three years from 2017 to 2020, so may well be closer to the Bielsa mould than the other candidates.

The report does however state that Leeds are hopeful that Bielsa ‘can stay for a fifth season’.

While things haven’t gone to plan for Bielsa this season, with Leeds sitting 15th in the table and not yet out of the relegation fight, he remains the man to take the team forward.

He has been badly hampered by consistent injuries to key figures throughout the campaign and he has arguably done well to keep the Whites clear of danger – the win at West Ham for example came with