Leicester City have entered ‘advanced talks’ to appoint their top manager target to replace Enzo Maresca.
Leicester City were left shocked when Enzo Maresca departed the club to take the manager job vacated by Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea just over a fortnight ago.
The Argentine had only been at the helm for a season, guiding Leicester to the Championship title after the club placed huge faith in him by appointing him in just his second senior manager role.
Numerous options have been considered to take the Leicester hot seat ahead of a Premier League return, with names such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Carlos Corberan all mentioned.
It appeared in recent days that Graham Potter had emerged as the most likely candidate to take the job, however it has now been revealed that a different manager has leapfrogged Potter to become the preferred choice.
Steve Cooper in ‘advanced talks’ for Leicester City job
Steve Cooper is the manager in question, having been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in December.
Cooper was highly regarded for the work he did at Forest, guiding them from the Championship relegation zone to the Premier League in his first season and subsequently keeping them in the top flight upon their return.
However, he was replaced by Nuno Espírito Santo in December with Forest on a bad run and in danger of relegation.
His links to rivals Forest meant many thought he may not be offered the job, however John Percy of The Telegraph has now confirmed on ‘X’ that Cooper is now Leicester’s lead candidate.
Percy posted: ‘Steve Cooper in advanced talks with Leicester and emerging as number one option to succeed Enzo Maresca.’
Thomas Frank believes Steve Cooper is ‘fantastic’ manager
One manager who knows all about keeping a team in the Premier League is Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
The Dane has done a brilliant job at the Bees, finishing 13th, 9th and 16th in his three top flight seasons in charge of Brentford having got the club promoted from the Championship by beating Cooper’s Swansea City in the play-off final.
Frank is a big fan of Cooper and expressed his appreciation for the Welshman ahead of one of the pair’s Premier League clashes as he said: “Steve is a coach that I admire a lot.
“I really love the journey he has been on. He went into Swansea and got them into the play-offs two times in a row at a club that didn’t expect to be in the play-offs.
“Going into Nottingham [Forest] and winning the play-offs, and now in the Premier League doing well. I think he has done fantastic.”
Whilst his initial appointment could be divisive given his Forest association, Cooper is a manager who is very capable of keeping Leicester in the Premier League.
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