Aitor Karanka favourite to become Leeds United boss after Garry Monk’s shock resignation

AITOR KARANKA is the favourite to succeed Garry Monk at Leeds United.

The Spaniard wants to remain in the area and could return to football management just two months after leaving Middlesbrough.

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Karanka - who led Boro to promotion in 2015/16 - will be an attractive proposition for the new Leeds hierarchy, and the imminent arrival of his former Boro sidekick Victor Orta only adds fuel to the fire.

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Orta is set to take over as Leeds' new technical director, a fresh role created with new owner Andrea Radrizzani looking to transform the Elland Road hierarchy.

Orta quickly became Karanka's right-hand man after arriving at Boro in December 2015 as the club's head of European recruitment.

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But this week he severed his ties on Teesside amid mounting concerns over his dressing room influence.

The Leeds situation opens up an intriguing possibility of Garry Monk, who surprisingly left Elland Road on Wednesday, and Karanka effectively performing a 'job swap'.

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Karanka - who led Boro to promotion in 2015/16 - has been lined with Sunderland and Wolves.

Burt he will be an attractive proposition for Leeds, who are setting their sights on achieving automatic promotion to the Premier League next season.