Leeds wanted ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Claudio Ranieri before appointing Marcelo Bielsa this summer
But it has worked out perfectly, the Whites have won all three of their opening Championship games of the season
LEEDS UNITED were prepared to pay former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte an eye-watering £18MILLION to take over as manager.
The Whites have made a blistering start to the new Championship season, winning their opening three games under new boss Marcelo Bielsa.
But in a sensational interview to Italian newspaper , Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani eyed Conte for the job and even interviewed Claudio Ranieri.
He said: ";Conte [was on the list] and with him, we would have been certain of promotion to the Premier League.
"I would even have offered him €20 million [£18m]."
Leeds' search for a new boss was taking place around the same time as rumours started that Conte was destined for the axe at Chelsea.
Radrizzani added: "Then I interviewed [Claudio] Ranieri who was attracted by our interest, but declined as he was waiting for a call from a top-flight club.
"I even spoke to [Roberto] Martinez, but Belgium were an obstacle."
The Yorkshire outfit went on to appoint former Argentina boss Bielsa as new coach, just days after Conte was sacked at Stamford Bridge.
And Radrizzani admitted the 63-year-old was always one of the leading contenders to take the challenge of leading Leeds back to the Premier League.
He added: "At the end of May, I spoke with our director of football [Victor] Orta and he said Bielsa would be ideal, but that it would be impossible [to get him].
"Those words just motivated me even more and we negotiated for a few days then reached an agreement at £3m, which he shares with his staff, and a one year plus one year option as duration."
Radrizzani went on to believe that with the experience of "top player" Bielsa Leeds are "even more" of a Premier League club.
Conte is yet to take up another position since he was sacked at Chelsea, while Ranieri, who miraculously won the 2015/16 Premier League title with Leicester, was sacked as Nantes boss in May.