Leeds United’s pursuit of a new director of football is going to hinge largely on who is going to own the club from the summer onwards.
The Whites have uncertainty shrouding the club from top to bottom at the moment, with the squad not knowing what division they will be in next season, while the ownership is also up in the air too.
The San Francisco 49ers are expected to complete their £ 475 million takeover of the club very soon, but a drop to the Championship would take a hit to the club’s finances and therefore cast doubt on the sale.
Who is going to replace Victor Orta?
A major issue that needs addressing more so than signings and a manager for next season is the vacant director of football position after Victor Orta parted ways with the club earlier this week.
Before being able to conduct real long-term business, the club needs to sort that out, and The Athletic’s Phil Hay believes it all comes down to the ownership, with the 49ers and Andrea Radrizzani needing to resolve this grey area soon.
Speaking on The Phil Hay Show podcast, Hay stated:
“It would be common sense because every single club in Europe – give or take – is following it at the moment. Director of football or sporting director – whatever it is – that position will have to be filled.
“But it has to be said that pushing on with any of this is difficult until Leeds are clear about where they’re going with the ownership.
“Is it going to be Radrizzani in charge next season? Is it going to be 49ers Enterprises?
“As we keep saying, if they stay up, we think there’ll be a shift but if they go down, it’s far more questionable.”
Stuart Webber to Leeds?
We exclusively revealed this morning that one director elsewhere that Leeds has their eyes on is Norwich City’s, Stuart Webber.
The Welshman has impressed Radrizzani during his time at Carrow Road since 2017, to the point where he would like to make this appointment, should he remain at the helm in the summer when a decision is made on Orta’s successor.
Would you be happy for Radrizzani to sell?
A director of football needs to be brought in, and in my opinion, it has to be someone that the 49ers aim to appoint because they are the long-term future of the club.
Webber would be a solid choice if Radrizzani makes it, but it would be infuriating if he is the man to make the final call when he’s selling up soon anyway.
This is going to be a make-or-break decision for our summer window because we need to hit the ground running with better signings than Orta managed.
