Leicester City are nearing the end of their search for Enzo Maresca’s successor as manager with Graham Potter and Carlos Corberan amongst the leading contenders.
Leicester began the search for Maresca’s successor after he emerged as the preferred choice to succeed Maurico Pochettino at Chelsea, completing his switch to Stamford Bridge nine days ago, and have been speaking to several candidates and their representatives to gauge their availability and interest in the position.
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Steve Cooper, who was sacked as Nottingham Forest manager in December, is also a candidate.
Each coach has also been assessed on their football philosophy, wage demands and who they would want to bring in as their backroom staff, as Maresca took six of the backroom team with him.
Potter has long been admired by owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who has looked to appoint him in the past when the position was previously vacant, but Potter was reluctant to leap back into management after his experience as Chelsea boss just over a year ago. He was sacked less than a year into his tenure after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion.
Potter wanted to take time away from the game and said no when Leicester appointed Dean Smith and then Maresca.
Potter has also turned down other job offers over the last year but Leicester are hoping he can be tempted back to oversee their return to the Premier League, but Potter is yet to indicate he is ready to take up the position. Leicester would like Potter to be on a final short-list and are waiting on him to make a decision whether he wants to be considered.
Like Potter, Corberan is seen as a younger, enthusiastic and driven coach who can build on the work Maresca started in turning Leicester into a modern, progressive possession-based side.
The Spaniard is admired for his playing style and coaching ability, and is considered a serious option, although they would have to negotiate compensation with West Bromwich Albion, the club Corberan took to the play-offs last season.
Leicester want a new manager in position sooner rather than later as there is plenty of work to be done before the players return for pre-season training next month.
They face a Premier League charge and the prospect of a points deduction for a breach of profit and sustainability rules for their relegation season of 2022-23, when they posted a second consecutive £90million loss.
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To ensure they are not in breach again Leicester will have a limited budget this summer and will have to trade to strengthen the squad, although they are due £10m from Chelsea in compensation for Maresca.
Three players from the Championship-winning squad have left — Dennis Praet, Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho — and need to be replaced, while Callum Doyle and Yunus Akgun have returned to their clubs after season-long loans. Leicester are expected to complete a permanent deal for the other loanee, winger Abdul Fatawu.
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The futures of players returning from loans, like Boubakary Soumare, Victor Kristiansen and Luke Thomas, must also be decided.
Planning for pre-season also needs to be finalised after the shock departure of Maresca.
Leicester are still assessing other options as well and it remains uncertain whether Potter will indicate his interest or that Corberan could be prised away from West Bromwich Albion, but Leicester hope to make an appointment in the next couple of weeks and the duo are high on the list.
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