Kieran Maguire: Victor Orta could now be placed on ‘gardening leave’ amid Leeds United latest
Leeds United could place Victor Orta on gardening leave if he is determined to force through a move to Chelsea
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the highly-rated sporting director wanted by the Blues.
Orta has been with Leeds since 2017 and has overseen a highly successful recruitment operation.
The Telegraph reported last Tuesday (20 September) that Orta is high on Chelsea’s list of targets for their vacant sporting director role.
The West London club have been forced to look for alternatives after missing out on RB Leipzig’s Christoph Freund.
Maguire insists that Leeds will make it as difficult as possible for Chelsea to prise Orta away.
“With the Dan Ashworth to Newcastle case, we saw that directors of football are now in the upper echelons as far behind-the-scenes staff are concerned,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Todd Boehly appointing himself as the interim sporting director is a really good case for having a professional do it as opposed to an amateur.
“Chelsea have behaved in a haphazard and disjointed way over the summer with regards to recruitment.
“Leeds will therefore hold out for the maximum amount. If they do not get their way, they are entitled to put Orta on gardening leave and make things as awkward as possible for Chelsea.
“Having said that, given the speed with which Graham Potter went to Chelsea, I suspect that the club will be prepared to pay whatever the asking price is.”
In other news, Leeds United employee backs Luis Sinisterra after “incredible” team news reveal.