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Leeds have agreed personal terms with Marcelo Bielsa and hope to appoint him as their new manager inside the next seven days.

Leeds’ painstaking talks with Bielsa have progressed over the last 48 hours and they have agreed a salary package in principle with the Argentinian.

However he has still to sign on the dotted line and Leeds are considering a move for Aston Villa’s Steve Bruce as an alternative.

Bruce is a promotion specialist and has twice guided Birmingham City and Hull City to the Premier League and could be prised from Villa Park because of the financial mess there.

(Image: AFP)

Bielsa, 62, remains Leeds’ top target and chairman and owner Andrea Radrizzani remains confident they can pull off a coup by landing the South American.

The Elland Road club still have one or two issues left to iron out with Bielsa before the former Argentina and Chile boss will agree to becoming their 10th boss in four years.

(Image: AFP)

Bielsa is understood to want guarantees over his budget to convince him to drop down to the Championship.

Bielsa has been out of work since leaving Lille in December after just seven months in charge and has previously managed Athletic Bilbao and Marseille.

Leeds have been boosted in their pursuit of him and he has turned down an offer from Sporting Lisbon.

Sporting had wanted Bielsa to replace Jorge Jesus, who quit at the end of the season to take over at Saudi side Al-Hilal.