Newcastle United have been hit by a shock move by a Premier League rival
Manchester City have reportedly poached Newcastle United’s first-team coaching analyst Mark Leyland.
The Daily Mail have reported the former Liverpool analyst will end his 14-month spell on Tyneside at the end of the season after joining Eddie Howe’s backroom staff midway through last season.
The Magpies boss praised the impact Leyland had made following his arrival and revealed the part he had made in helping turn around his side’s fortunes throughout the second half of the season as United burst out of the relegation zone and secured a mid-table finish in the Premier League.
Speaking towards the end of last season, Howe said: “Like all my staff, he’s had a big impact. He’s played a huge part in what we’ve done this season.
“He’s one of a number of people behind the scenes that have put a tireless amount of work in to try and improve the team. We love him to bits and he’s been an integral part of our team.
“I’ve spoken before about the infrastructure and we do need to improve what we deliver for our players. Certain aspects of the club need to evolve and change as we hopefully sign new players and develop the squad as we want to.”
Leyland initially worked under Howe during his time at Burnley before going on to spend time with Everton and Liverpool. His work with the latter of that trio and during his time at St James Park is believed to have captured the attention of key individuals at the Etihad Stadium and it is said Leyland will be handed a ‘new international position’ working across a number of clubs within the City Football Group at the end of the season.
Pep Guardiola has already explained what Javi Gracia will bring to Leeds United
The Manchester City boss has claimed that the Leeds-linked manager ‘knows what to do’ after reports claim he’s in talks with the Whites.
Javi Gracia would ‘know what to do’ at Leeds United according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has already highlighted the reasons why Javi Gracia will make a fantastic appointment for Leeds United as they try and escape the relegation zone.
The Whites have slipped into the bottom three for the first time this season after the 1-0 loss to Everton over the weekend, meaning that the threat of the Championship is now on the forefront of fans’ minds.
But despite sacking Jesse Marsch two weeks ago, there has been no permanent appointment after Leeds have been linked with and appear to have been rejected by over a dozen managers.
But Guardiola has admitted that his compatriot Gracia is an ‘excellent’ manager in his own right, and could use his knowledge from working in football in other countries to bolster Leeds in the future.
“Watford and Wolves are the best teams outside of the top six,” he said, speaking to the BBC before the two sides met in the F.A Cup final in 2019.
“They were consistent teams, Everton were up and down, Leicester finished incredibly well under Brendan Rodgers. Watford with Javi Gracia, he is an experienced manager from working in other countries.
“I think he is an excellent guy, and excellent manager and knows exactly what to do.”
Source: newcastleworld.com; leeds-live.co.uk
