Journalist Beren Cross has reported that the "leading candidates" to get the Leeds United manager's job are all currently in work.

What’s the word?

At the start of this week, following a loss that leaves the club on the edge of the relegation zone, the Whites opted to sack American head coach Jesse Marsch.

Being mid-way through the Premier League season and with the club in threat of going back down to the Championship, Leeds won't want to delay too long before hiring a new manager.

However, even if chairman Andrea Radrizzani believes the issue will be sorted soon, it sounds as though it won't be an easy task to hire a new manager as the club will have to convince any candidates to leave their current job first.

While speaking on a LeedsLive video stream, Cross explained his understanding of the situation, saying: "We've learned that the leading candidates - so, interviews are already underway, interviews began last night [Monday], they continue today - all of the leading candidates are in work.

"So it will require some negotiation with existing employers to get those managers out of their clubs if they want the job. So we'll see how that plays out. That, of course, will complicate matters with a third party being involved."

Difficult task

Of course, when you want to tempt a manager into trading one side for another, it can cost more money to buy them out of their contract. On top of that, it can be difficult to convince individuals to leave a project they are already working on.

For example, West Brom boss Carlos Corberan was linked with the job but has since rejected the Whites in favour of signing a new contract with the Baggies.

Interestingly enough, this update from Cross does suggest that touted names such as Marcelo Bielsa, Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Mauricio Pochettino are all seemingly out of the running as they are currently unattached.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how the next few hours and days play out as the club seek out a Marsch replacement.

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