Steve Cooper has emerged as the favourite to become the new Leicester City manager, according to reports.
Cooper has been without a job since being sacked by Nottingham Forest just under seven months ago.
During his time at the City Ground, Cooper won 42 of his 108 games in charge, winning the 2022 Championship play-offs to lead Forest back to the Premier League for the first time since 1999.
However, the Welshman was removed from his role in December as Forest battled against relegation, with replacement Nuno Espirito Santo just about able to lead them to safety, finishing 17th and six points clear of Luton Town, despite a four-point deduction.
Cooper lined up for Leicester job
Leicester City are on the hunt for a new manager after Enzo Maresca was unveiled as Chelsea boss earlier this week.
The Italian led the Foxes to the 2023/24 Championship title and an immediate return to the Premier League, but was understood to be worried about the club’s financial position, while simultaneously catching the eye of Chelsea.
West Brom’s Carlos Corberan has been heavily linked with the vacant position at the King Power Stadium. However, according to talkSPORT, it’s Cooper who has now emerged as the favourite.
With Cooper out of work, no fee would be required to bring him on board, with West Brom sure to demand a generous compensation package to allow Corberan to leave.
Despite his impressive achievements as a manager — also winning the U17 World Cup and reaching the U17 European Championship final with England and enjoying a two-year spell in charge of Swansea — Cooper would be a controversial appointment at Leicester given his ties to Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.