Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has revealed that he held talks with three high profile former Premier League managers this summer.

In an interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport via Sports Witness, Radrizzani was in contact with former Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte, Claudio Ranieri and Belgium manager Roberto Martinez for the managerial job at Elland Road before appointing Marcelo Bielsa earlier in June.

Radrizzani stated: “Conte, with him, [promotion to the] Premier League [would have been] safe. I would have offered 20 million. Then, I had an interview with Ranieri. He was flattered by our interest, but he declined as he was waiting for a call from the national team. I also talked to Martinez, but Belgium was an obstacle.”

Conte, who parted company with Chelsea earlier this summer, would have been one of the shock appointments of all time, even with a potential offer of €20m to take on the role as manager of the Lilywhites.

Ranieri was allowed to leave Nantes after the end of the last season and is currently still out of work, whilst former Everton coach Martinez helped Belgium finish third at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

The Verdict

Leeds United could have got off to a better start to the 2018/19 Championship campaign, having won all four of their opening fixtures.

But, the appointment of one of these three linked managers could have been huge for the Lilywhites.

Not only would it have arguably have made the Leeds United side stronger, but mentally for the fans knowing you had a manager of that stature could have turned a positive season into a silverware winning one.