The 52-year-old Spanish football manager and former player has been appointed by Leeds United as the team’s new manager, according to the club.
Gracia, the former boss at Watford, replaces Jesse Marsch, who was fired on February 6 following seven games without a win in the Premier League.
“Leeds United are delighted to announce the club have agreed terms with Javi Gracia to become men’s first team head coach, subject to obtaining a work permit,” a club statement read.
The club confirmed that the Spaniard has agreed to sign a “flexible contract.”
Leeds, who have since failed to win in three subsequent games under the caretaker charge of Michael Skubala, are now 19th in the table ahead of Saturday’s game against Southampton.
Gracia has been out of work since leaving Al Sadd last year. He has also managed Malaga, Rubin Kazan and Valencia.
During his time at Watford, he led them to the 2019 FA Cup final, which they lost 6-0 to Manchester City.
Carlos Corberan was linked with the position at Leeds before signing a new deal at West Bromwich Albion. The club also had interest in Rayo Vallecano‘s Andoni Iraola and ex-Ajaxboss Alfred Schreuder.
The 32-year-old English professional soccer player of Spanish descent has signed a short-term deal at Liverpool.
Lallana will leave Liverpoolas a free agent at the end of this season after manager Jurgen Kloppsanctioned the contract extension for the midfielder to “finish the job” of delivering the Premier Leaguetitle to Anfield.
Lallana’s contract was due to expire at the end of June, but Liverpool have confirmed that he has now signed a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2019-20 season.
Despite injuries during the latter part of his Liverpool career, Klopp said Lallana, who arrived from Southamptonin June 2014, deserves the chance to share in the club’s imminent title celebrations, with the team needing just six points from nine remaining games to win the league for the first time since 1990.
“I know how highly sought after Adam is in this moment by other clubs who want him for next season, so for him this is a commitment to us and we are very appreciative to him for it,” Klopp told the club’s website.
“This is absolutely how it should be, too, because I am so pleased he will be with us to finish the job this season and have the farewell he deserves so much.
“Adam always puts the club first — always. In the conversations we have had, he has been the first to express that my priority as a manager needs to be the players who are at this club for longer than just the rest of this season.
“He wants to be here to finish the job and do it properly, but it says everything about him that his biggest concern was blocking the progress and opportunity of a player who is under contract for next season also.
“But his role is too important to lose him before this season is done. So, it’s fantastic we can delay our messages of gratitude and good luck until the end of July now.”
Lallana has started just three league games this season, coming on as a substitute on 12 occasions, and said his role is likely to remain as a squad player in the final weeks of the campaign.
“The gaffer has been different class and we’ve had an honest conversation about what my role will be in the remaining weeks,” Lallana said.
“I want to contribute in the most positive way possible that helps him and the team, not just for the remaining matches of this season — but also what they’ll need to consider for next.
“I’m totally at peace with what that looks and feels like, and I know the role I’ll be playing for this team will help in what’s going to be an extraordinary period — the likes of which none of us have ever experienced.
“I feel in my time at Liverpool I’ve always looked to do the right thing for the team, the manager and the club in every decision I’ve made. I think this one fits into that category as well, so I’m buzzing to be seeing out this campaign and hopefully get to celebrate something memorable with an amazing group of people.”
Manchester United has agreed to a loan deal with AS Monaco for the 28-year-old Colombian footballer, who also plays for the Colombia national football team.
Falcao, who cost Monaco 60 million euros last summer, is set to join Louis van Gaal’s squad subject to a medical and terms, according to ESPN FC.
Falcao had also been a target of Real Madrid and had been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City.
His arrival will be one of two transfers United is expected to complete on deadline day, along with finalizing Daley Blind‘s move from Ajax.
Van Gaal had already brought in Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera, Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo and Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria.
European champion Madrid had been the favorite to sign Falcao, whose departure from Monaco seemed to be signaled when he was omitted from their squad to face Lille on Saturday.
Falcao, who missed the World Cup due to a cruciate ligament injury, scored 70 goals in 91 games for Atletico Madrid and 72 goals in 87 matches for Porto before joining Monaco.
Gracia, the former boss at Watford, replaces Jesse Marsch, who was fired on February 6 following seven games without a win in the Premier League.
