Victor Orta and Leeds United had a couple of people in mind to replace Marcelo Bielsa before the Argentine was eventually succeeded by Jesse Marsch, claims journalist Dean Jones.

Marsch took over from Bielsa at the end of February after the 66-year-old was sacked, but it appears that the American was not the only serious contender for the job.

Why was Bielsa replaced by Marsch?

No one at Leeds would have wanted to see Bielsa go. The former Lille manager is a club legend after taking the Whites back to the Premier League following a 16-year absence.

However, Orta and the rest of the Leeds hierarchy clearly felt a change had to be made, as the Yorkshire outfit were sinking fast under their ex-boss.

Bielsa lost the last four games of his reign, which included heavy defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool, leaving the Premier League side close to the relegation zone.

Marsch has obviously since come in, helping Leeds to end the rotten run they had been on by guiding the team to a 2-1 win against relegation rivals Norwich City.

Could Chelsea GO BUST?! Hear more on The Football Terrace...

What has Jones said about Orta and Marsch?

Given how swiftly Marsch was brought in, the 48-year-old was probably one of Leeds' top targets to replace Bielsa. Jones, however, has told GIVEMESPORT that they also had a couple of other names in mind.

Speaking to GMS, the insider said: "Orta I know had a couple of people in mind for this job and he wasn't all in on Jesse Marsch, but he is a supporter of his. He does hope it works out."

Who else did Leeds reportedly look at?

According to The Telegraph, former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde and Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan, who was previously a part of Bielsa's backroom staff, were also considered alongside Marsch.

In the end, though, they obviously settled for the last of that trio. Was that the right choice? Only time will tell, but at least the ex-RB Leipzig boss has something to build on following Joe Gelhardt's dramatic winner at the death against Norwich.

After those two defeats to Leicester City and Aston Villa, things were looking bleak for Leeds, and you suspect that had they gone on to lose against Norwich, Marsch would have already been in the firing line.

Fortunately for the Whites, things did not pan out that way. But more performances like the one against Villa and Orta is likely to be facing a lot of questions, especially from a Leeds fanbase who adored their former manager.