Leeds reportedly set to sack Gracia and appoint Allardyce as manager

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Leeds reportedly set to sack Gracia and appoint Allardyce as manager

Allardyce has been without a club since leaving West Bromwich Albon at the end of the 2020-21 season
Allardyce has been without a club since leaving West Bromwich Albon at the end of the 2020-21 seasonAFP
Leeds are reportedly close to sacking coach Javi Gracia after a dismal run of just three wins in 11 Premier League games has left the club loitering in a relegation battle, with Sam Allardyce set to be named as the Spaniard's successor.

The Yorkshire club only appointed Gracia as manager in February as a replacement for Jesse Marsch.

However, a wretched run of form - including four losses and 18 goals conceded in their last five matches - has led the Leeds board to act urgently ahead of a tricky tie against Manchester City on Saturday.

Leeds are currently 17th in the Premier League, sitting above the relegation zone only on goal difference and with just four games left to play this season.

Former England manager Sam Allardyce is reportedly in talks with the club to take over.

Leeds have hit a horrid run of form at the tail of this season
Leeds have hit a horrid run of form at the tail of this seasonAFP

'Big Sam' has been without a club since leaving West Bromwich Albion at the end of the 2020-21 season, a campaign which saw his side relegated from the Premier League.

It was the first relegation of Allardyce's managerial career - one in which he has become known as a 'survival specialist' of sorts.

Gracia joined Leeds on a reported "flexible contract", but the board is considering the change ahead of arguably the most difficult run of any bottom side, with City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur all to come before the season's end.

Leeds conceded 23 goals in April - a Premier League record for a single month and the most by any top-flight side since Birmingham did the same in April 1965.