Reports in Portugal have claimed that Leeds United have identified Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim as a potential replacement for Marcelo Bielsa should he not sign a new contract at Elland Road.
Bielsa's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with the Argentine preferring to work under one-year deals, and, although he is expected to extend his stay at Elland Road, at present he is yet to agree an extension.
Speaking last week, Bielsa confirmed that he would give the Whites a decision over his future prior to the end of the season if that is what the club want.
He said: "If the club want me to make a decision before the end of the season, I will give them the expected response."
Yet, with Bielsa notoriously unpredictable, Portuguese journalist Bruno Andrade has reported that Amorim has been identified as a contingency plan should the Whites find themselves without a manager in the summer.
Speaking last month, Whites owner Andrea Radrizzani said that, whilst he hopes Bielsa will stay, the club have been looking at their options should he depart after three seasons at Elland Road.
He told CBS Sports: "Marcelo knows we are happy with him.
"If he stays, we are really delighted to continue. If the group is happy with him, I am also happy and we should continue.
"So, it's up to him. We wait on his decision but in any case, myself and Victor Orta have already analysed the options and what to do in case Marcelo does not want to be with us.
"We hope he will continue but in any case we are preparing the club."
The Whites could well face a battle with Premier League rivals Leicester City should they identify Amorim as a potential replacement for Bielsa, however, with the Foxes also said to have identified the 36-year-old as a potential manager.
Brendan Rodgers is currently in charge at the King Power Stadium but his reputation has grown after leading the Foxes to two top-four challenges after a wildly successful three-year stint at Celtic.
Former Portugal international Amorim is a highly-rated young manager who took over Sporting a year ago, signing a three-year contract with a €20m buyout clause
Prior to taking over at Sporting, Amorim enjoyed a successful four months in charge of Braga, leading them to the Portuguese League Cup with a victory over Porto in the final.
He has now led Sporting to the brink of their first Primeira Liga title since 2002.
