Graham Potter identified as top Leicester target with Ruud van Nistelrooy also in frame

Leicester City have identified Graham Potter as their top target to replace Steve Cooper, although the manager’s wage demands may see them turn to a list that also includes Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Championship winners dispensed with Cooper on Sunday, after five difficult months where he never clicked with the club. Supporters didn’t take to him due to his Nottingham Forest connections, but he also struggled to impose his tactical approach on the squad.

A defeat to former manager Enzo Maresca proved the final straw, as Leicester lost 2-1 at home to Chelsea in a poor performance.

Potter had been the first choice to replace Maresca in the summer, but there was no progress made on the pursuit then due to both the 49-year-old’s age as well as a sense he wanted a bigger club. Leicester instead opted for Cooper, despite some internal counter-arguments to the appointment.

There is hope they may have a better chance with Potter now, due to how long his time out of the game since his own departure from Chelsea in March 2023 has been. It is understood he would still need considerable convincing, however.

While Potter is seen as the ideal candidate, Leicester are naturally looking at other options, with Van Nistelrooy understood to be a name on the list. The Dutch coach has impressed in a brief coaching career so far, including an interim spell at Manchester United.

He wrought a winning response out of a deflated squad after Erik ten Hag’s sacking, before Ruben Amorim was appointed. Van Nistelrooy had previously shown promise in winning the Dutch cup in one season at PSV Eindhoven, only to resign with one game of the campaign remaining due to a lack of support.