Aitor Karanka to Leeds United was a pretty fair assumption to make when Garry Monk left Elland Road. With Victor Orta so closely linked with Leeds, and then eventually taking a position, it all made sense.
Assumptions turned into exclusives and everyone hung their hat on the former Middlesbrough man getting the job. There’s no huge shame, there was a reason behind the assumptions, but the Yorkshire Evening Post now reporting no interest has obviously changed things.
Over in Spain, Karanka is being linked with Alaves by AS, although there’s been no claim of actual contact. Karanka is from Alava so it would make sense, and he’s got some feeling for the club.
Alaves are one of a number of clubs, including Leeds, linked with the former Middlesbrough manager by AS, but the Spanish club are the basis of the article. From Spanish articles saying Karanka was due to take over at Leeds, the stance has now gone back to the manager having many options.
So has Karanka turned Leeds United down? It’s possible, that would explain the club briefing no interest now, rather than earlier. There could have also been a mutual lessening of interest, or all assumptions were way off and there was never a shred of interest, with the latter seeming least likely now.
Perhaps Orta doesn’t want to work with Karanka this time around. It’s possible. It’s fair to say transfers didn’t go swimmingly over the past year at Middlesbrough, with Karanka becoming increasingly frustrated and publicly so.
Leeds United may want to avoid that and be looking for a set-up in which the manager, or head coach as he could be labelled, will have less power over transfers.
