Adelaide United could be in a battle to keep hold of coach Josep Gombau with reports J-League club Yokohama F Marinos are chasing the Spaniard, though his agent has poured cold water over the speculation.
Yokohama sacked their coach Yasuhiro Higuchi on the weekend, with reports out of Japan revealing Gombau and Reds technical director Guillermo Amor are on their radar.
Gombau is currently contracted to the club until the end of the 2016/17 season.
While Adelaide United football director and chief executive Michael Petrillo admitted the pair are being noticed abroad he insists they haven’t heard anything about them leaving the club.
Gombau’s agent Manuel Seisdedos told the Adelaide Advertiser he was not aware of any interest in his client.
“I’ve just got back from Asia and there’s definitely nothing there,” Seisdedos said.
“He’s Adelaide through and through. Any rumour is just that, speculation.”
It should come as no surprise overseas clubs are looking at the duo giving Adelaide’s stunning start to the season.
The side is currently unbeaten and second in the Hyundai A-League, just one point behind leaders Perth Glory, and will host the final of the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup against the same opponent.
Yokohama, who are currently 10th in the J-League, want to appoint a manager within the next month, are reportedly looking to appoint a successor who understands the possession-based game.
Gombau and Amor certainly fit the bill, given their time in the Academy ranks of Spanish giants Barcelona.
The J-League club are 20% owned by the City Group, whose football director Txiki Begiristain is a former Barcelona player. He would be aware of Gombau through the group’s link with Melbourne City and the Hyundai A-League as well as from his time with the Catalan giants.
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