Leeds’ potential new owners ‘eye Steven Gerrard’ – but players want Sam Allardyce to stay

Steven Gerrard could be in line for a return to management with Leeds United but has a task on his hands convincing the players that he is the right man for the job.

The Liverpool icon has been out of work since being sacked by Aston Villa in October last year. Following Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the campaign, they could hand him the reins.

According to The Sun, Gerrard is an option for the club’s potential new owners. Current chief Andrea Radrizzani is attempting to do a deal with the owners of the San Francisco 49ers.

Should a takeover be rubber-stamped, there will be a decision to make over Leeds’ current manager. Sam Allardyce only penned a contract until the end of the season.

It is suggested that players would be keen on the former West Ham, Crystal Palace and Sunderland boss staying at Elland Road. He remained tight-lipped on his future in the immediate aftermath of Leeds’ demotion to the second tier.

“I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it,” Allardyce said. “I’m glad I came back. I tried my best to get Leeds out of trouble, but I can’t enjoy anything when I don’t win.

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“We didn’t leave a stone unturned and it’s really sad that Leeds is in this position and to the fans, I apologise that I didn’t do better and the players didn’t do better.”

He added: “We need to sit down and discuss the whole infrastructure of the club. Recruitment is the number one factor for any manager. You can’t improve a player by 10%; it’s going to be two to three per cent.

“If I do anything more [in management] it will be here and these discussions will happen across the next few days. We have to sit down for a couple of days and thrash it out to make sure both sides can be comfortable. The last thing I want is to walk in and things not go in the direction we agreed.”

Allardyce, 68, oversaw four matches in charge of Leeds after replacing Javi Gracia. He ended up losing three of those including the 4-1 defeat to Tottenham on the final day of the campaign.

While Gerrard is being considered by Leeds, one man who is also on their list is Carlos Corberan. The Yorkshire side were keen on the West Brom boss before they appointed Gracia but could not agree a deal.

He eventually signed a new four-year deal with West Brom and led them to a ninth-placed finish in the Championship – just three points off of the playoff positions.

Ex-Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has also been linked but it is debatable whether he would take a job in the Championship.