Leeds United are weighing up whether to make a second approach for Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Manager hunt underway

After sacking Jesse Marsch earlier this week, there have been several names linked with the vacant manager's post, including Iraola, but a deal seemed to be off the cards, with Guillem Balague telling BBC Sport that his current club have blocked the move.

Other managers in the running for the job include Rafael Benitez and Arne Slot, however the latter has since ruled himself out of contention, and as a result Leeds could now go back in for the Vallecano boss.

The Latest: Second approach?

According to a report from The Guardian, the Whites have renewed their interest in the Spaniard, who is said to have a release clause of between £7m - £10m in their contract, an amount they are now prepared to pay.

It is detailed that Victor Orta has already been on an unsuccessful trip to Madrid in the hopes of securing the 40-year-old's services, but the sporting director has reason to hope that he is still within reach.

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The Verdict: Right man?

Journalist Nick Emms has described the young manager as a 'Bielsa disciple', making reference to the fact that he played under the former Leeds boss at Athletic Bilbao, while he has also been hailed as 'fantastic' and a 'really exciting' option.

Vallecano were only promoted back to La Liga in 2021, but Iraola has already managed to lead a charge towards the Champions League places, with his side currently sat in fifth, just three points behind Atletico Madrid.

That is quite the achievement for the Usurbil-born manager, who has averaged 1.53 points per game in charge of the Spanish club, far more than the figure of just 1.16 averaged by Jesse Marsch during his time at Elland Road.

As such, it is fantastic news that Leeds could still bring in Iraola, and they will want to get the deal done as soon as possible, to give them the best possible chance of preserving their Premier League status.