Leeds to fill vacant Slot in summer
FEYENOORD fear Leeds are ready to take a huge gamble on their Premier League future in a bid to land coach Arne Slot.
The Dutch title contenders have blocked a bid by the Yorkshire club to appoint Slot as manager after sacking Jesse Marsch following a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest that has left them embroiled in another relegation battle.
But Feyenoord will be unable to stop Slot from walking away at the end of the season because his recently-signed contract extension includes a clause that allows him to leave for a Premier League club in the summer.
And there is a growing worry in Rotterdam that Leeds will now appoint a caretaker boss to take charge until the end of the season in the hope that Slot, 44, will join them.
It would be a massive risk after a run that has seen Leeds plunge towards the bottom after failing to win any of their last eight Premier League games.
Michael Skubala will once again be in charge for the visit of Manchester United after his first game as caretaker boss saw Leeds draw 2-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
They have failed to lure West Brom manager Carlos Coberan and Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola after parting company with Marsch.
Slot was tempted by their offer but said: “It is a massive compliment because Leeds is such a big and fantastic club.
“It is not a punishment to carry on with my job at Feyenoord, because we are on the way to bigger things. But Feyenoord are not letting me go right now.”
Leeds were ready to double Slot’s current £1.6million-a-year salary. He let Luis Sinisterra to leave for Elland Road last summer after Crysencio Summerville made the same move.
Slot also wanted to buy Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto for Feyenoord before he moved to Leeds from Zurich.