Leicester City could see their hopes of appointing Graham Potter as their new manager boosted significantly by the compensation they will receive for Enzo Maresca.
Enzo Maresca left Leicester City to take the vacant manager role at Chelsea less than a year after being appointed as manager of the Foxes.
The Argentine coach was handed just his second senior management role by Leicester following relegation from the Premier League and impressed as he guided the club to the Championship title and a return to the top flight at the first attempt.
Given the faith Leicester put in Maresca, it was disappointing to see him leave the club in the lurch this summer by taking the Chelsea job, but the club have been working hard to narrow their subsequent manager search over the last week or so.
That task has culminated in Leicester deciding Graham Potter is the man they want to take charge, and the latest update on the club could be the deciding factor in the 49-year-old taking the job.
Leicester City set to see transfer ban lifted thanks to Maresca compensation
Talks have taken place between the Leicester hierarchy and Potter, with the manager out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.
Whilst Potter was said to be impressed by both the set-up at the club and the squad, he still had reservations and, given the club’s uncertain financial situation, this is perhaps not surprising.
Potter is widely believed to be keen on the England job and with the outcome of this summer’s European Championship meaning that role could become vacant this does further complicate matters.
However, on Sunday it was confirmed by The Sun that Leicester are set to see their transfer embargo lifted by the Premier League as the £10 million received from Chelsea as compensation for Maresca’s departure means that will avoid breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
The club have been accused of breaching PSR in their last three seasons in the Premier League but have appealed the decision and they are now confident that they will not have to sell their most valuable assets this summer.
Leicester transfer update good news in pursuit for Graham Potter
Whilst the transfer ban has been lifted, Leicester could still see themselves deducted points if their appeal against breaching Premier League PSR is unsuccessful.
Whilst this uncertainty does make it more difficult to convince Potter to take the reins, it is likely a transfer ban or fire-sale of key players would put off most prospective managers.
With the transfer embargo set to be lifted, Potter could feel that he will have the resources available to build a side in his image, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall central to that.
Dewsbury-Hall would likely have been the player Leicester would have had to sell if they needed to quickly raise funds to avoid a PSR breach given he is the club’s most valuable asset, but the latest update could see the 25-year-old now stay put.
Leicester will still not be able to spend frivolously this summer, but they have the opportunity to make additions ahead of their bid to stay in the Premier League and this could be the deciding factor for Potter to take the job.
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