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Jaap Stam Ruled Out of Leeds Job as Agent Reveals Only Premier League Club Will Lure Him From Royals

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​Reading boss Jaap Stam has been ruled out of a move to fellow Championship side Leeds after his agent stated that only a Premier League club will take him away from his current position. 

Stam took over at the Madejski stadium at the start of last season leading the side to a third place finish and the final of the Championship playoffs where they lost to Huddersfield on penalties. 

The Dutchman's strong first season caught the attention of new Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani who is currently looking to replace Garry Monk after he recently left the club to join Middlesbrough. 

Stam has a year left on his current contract with Reading and he has opened discussions about extending his contract, with his agent Henk Timmer telling Dutch media outlet ​Voetbal Internationalthat he will only leave the club should a Premier League side show interest. 

Reading's Dutch manager Jaap Stam gestures on the touchline during the English Championship play-off final football match between Huddersfield Town and Reading at Wembley Stadium in London on May 29, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Reading's Dutch manager Jaap Stam gestures on the touchline during the English Championship play-off final football match between Huddersfield Town and Reading at Wembley Stadium in London on May 29, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

He said: “There’s a lot of interest in Jaap from English clubs and elsewhere in Europe but he is loyal to Reading, the club who gave him his chance in English football.

“If a big club from the Premier League comes, it might be another story. The club (Reading’s) leadership are realistic but as it stands, Jaap wants to finish his job at Reading.”

Stam may have found a hostile welcome at Leeds after he was involved in a spat with their supporters back in December when Reading lost 2-0, but after that they fell short of the playoffs, finishing seventh, and they would welcome his leadership.

Meanwhile, Radrizzani has realised the urgency of finding a new manager admitting he 'understood the frustration' about the current situation, narrowing his options down to four, but he insists he wants to make the right decision. 

He said: “It is important we take the time to make the best decision for the club.”

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