By Paul Jones
Steve Cooper is in line to become Leicester City’s new manager.
The 44-year-old former Swansea City boss, who was dismissed by Nottingham Forest in December, has held extended talks with the Foxes, Forest’s big East Midlands rivals.
Leicester had considered another former Swans head coach, the ex-Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter, along with West Brom’s Carlos Corberan, for the role.
Earlier this week, Potter seemed to be the leading candidate in a dynamic situation, but Welshman Cooper is now in pole position.
Cooper, who led England’s Under-17s to a World Cup victory in 2017, also spent two years at Swansea, guiding them to the play-off final in 2021, where they lost to Brentford.
Leicester City fans right now going from Graham Potter to Steve Cooper#NFFC #LCFC pic.twitter.com/vubTzN7Cjb
— Forest Fan TV (@OfficialFFTV) June 19, 2024
He later won the Championship play-offs with Forest, ending their 23-year absence from the top flight.
Under his leadership, Forest finished 16th in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season.
However, he left the City Ground just before Christmas in the 2023-24 campaign with the club sitting 17th in the table.
Last April, Leicester attempted to bring Potter to the King Power Stadium before their relegation from the Premier League.
However, Potter was not ready to return to management shortly after his dismissal from Chelsea, where he had spent less than seven months in charge.
#LCFC | I understand that Graham Potter is now OUT of the running to be Leicester City’s next manager.
A deal was close, but has now fallen through.
Steve Cooper is now the leading contender to take over at King Power Stadium. pic.twitter.com/3lPLKMkgNX
— Owynn Palmer-Atkin (@OwynnPA) June 19, 2024
Leicester, having won the Championship last season, will kick off their Premier League campaign against Tottenham after the release of the new season’s fixtures.
The search for a new manager began after Enzo Maresca left for Chelsea at the start of the month.
Leicester were disappointed to lose Maresca, who led them back to the Premier League after just one season.
The club still face the possibility of starting the season with a points deduction due to breaches in profit and sustainability rules charged in March.
If not compliant by June 30, they could face further punishment, potentially leading to the forced sale of players.
BREAKING | BBC Sport Leicester understands that Graham Potter is now OUT of the running to be Leicester City’s new manager.
A deal was close, but has now fallen through.
Steve Cooper is now the leading contender to take over at King Power Stadium.#LCFC 🦊 pic.twitter.com/134Tjb2Kvv
— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) June 19, 2024
Read the recent Steve Cooper stories on Dai Sport.
Steve Cooper Linked But Unlikely To Be Keen On Birmingham City Job