Sources: Victor Orta tells 49ers who he wants as next Leeds United manager, he's a 'huge' admirer
Leeds United sporting director has thrown his weight behind Carlos Corberan becoming the club's new manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The West Brom boss and former Leeds coach is being targeted by the Premier League club to take over immediately from the sacked Jesse Marsch.
It is believed that longstanding transfer guru Orta is a "huge" admirer of Corberan, who he worked with for three years at Elland Road.
He has recommended to club chiefs, including owner Andrea Radrizzani and key shareholders American company 49ers Enterprises, that Corberan should be appointed with the brief of implementing the high-intensity football pioneered by former boss Marcelo Bielsa.
The 39-year-old Spaniard has guided West Brom into the Championship play-offs this season after succeeding Steve Bruce in October with the team in dire straits.
The Championship club has a remarkable record under Corberan of 2.31 points per game from 13 Championship matches, which have yielded 10 wins and three draws.
He has a contract with West Brom running until the summer of 2025.
United announced on Monday afternoon that Marsch had been dismissed with immediate effect, which came less than 24 hours after Sunday's Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest.
The aftermath of that match was notable for a section of Leeds fans calling for Marsch to be fired.
United are now searching for their second new manager in less than a year, following the sacking of Bielsa last season.
West Brom are braced for an approach from United and are keen to secure Corberan to a new and improved contract to stop him leaving.
The possibility of a return to Elland Road, where he worked as a coach alongside Marcelo Bielsa following an impressive stint with their Under-23s side, as it was then, could prove difficult to resist for Spaniard.
Albion have rocketed to fifth in the table and are in firm play-off contention, although a top-two finish looks out of the question.
Corberan has no Premier League management experience, but also steered Huddersfield into play-off contention before his departure last summer and then had a short stint in charge of Greek club Olympiacos.