Here are 3 top managers who Leeds could target if Heckingbottom leaves, including 55-year-old Scot

Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom could find himself without a job soon, if reports from the Mirror are to be believed.  

The 40-year-old took charge of the Whites only in February this year, following the sacking of Thomas Christiansen, after a run of poor results saw Leeds slip out of the playoff positions. Upon taking over, Heckingbottom wasn’t able to improve the fortunes of the club, as the Yorkshire-based outfit finished the season placed 13th in the EFL Championship.  

Heckingbottom, during his three-month reign, has just managed to lead the Whites to just four victories in 16 games and has overseen eight losses in total.

Now, according to the report, Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is considering relieving the manager of his duties as he looks to bring in a new manager who will be able to help the team mount a promotion bid next season. If the former Barnsley manager is axed by the Italian, here are three replacements that the club can consider bringing in.

David Moyes (Unattached)

The Scot is currently without a job after having been let go by West Ham United at the end of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign.

Moyes’ career has somewhat taken a downturn after his sorry stint at Manchester United, which was followed by unsuccessful spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland. However, he showed his value and pedigree in this recently concluded season in his short spell at West Ham. 

Having been brought in to replace Slaven Bilic, with the club mired in a relegation battle, the 55-year-old guided the East Londoners to a respectable 13th place finish.

A vastly experienced manager with great knowledge of the English game, Moyes has shown that he has the tools to build strong and solid teams if given time at the club. He could prove to be a shrewd appointment for the Whites and could be the person to take them back to the Premier League again.

Carlos Carvalhal (Unattached)

Released by Swansea City after failing to guide them to safety in the Premier League, Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal is a candidate worth taking look at. The 52-year-old knows the EFL Championship in and out, having been in charge of Sheffield Wednesday for two and a half years between June 2015 and December 2017.

In both of his full seasons at the club, Carvalhal led the Owls to a top-six finish, which isn’t an easy thing to achieve by any means.

While things did not end well at Swansea, he almost managed to steer them clear of relegation only to falter towards the end of the campaign. Experienced, proven at this level and without a club, he would be a good appointment at Leeds. 

Quique Sanchez Flores (Unattached)

Having been let go by Spanish La Liga outfit Espanyol, Quique Sanchez Flores would be a left-field choice for the Whites but an exciting one nonetheless.  

An experienced manager who has managed several big clubs like Benfica, Valencia and Atletico Madrid, the 53-year-old has also had a stint in England, when he managed Watford in the Premier League in 2015/16 season, leading them to a comfortable mid-table finish as well as the semi-finals of the FA Cup before leaving because of disagreements over transfer plans.

A pragmatic manager who builds solid teams that are hard to break down, Leeds could do with such defensive resilience after what has been a dismal season. Add to that his track record as well, he is surely a great choice.