Leicester step up hunt to replace Enzo Maresca as list of final three released for coaches under consideration

Leicester step up hunt to replace Enzo Maresca – with Carlos Corberan, Steve Cooper and Ruud van Nistelrooy among coaches under consideration

Leicester will step up their hunt for a new manager this week as they seek a swift conclusion to their search for Enzo Maresca’s replacement.

The Foxes are narrowing down candidates to a shortlist expected to comprise three or four names, with West Brom coach Carlos Corberan known to be of interest. Maresca won promotion from the Championship last season before joining Chelsea on a five-year deal.

Since leaving Leeds United, where he was Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant, in 2020, Corberan has worked impressively on limited budgets at Huddersfield and West Brom, leading both to the Championship play-offs before ultimately falling short.

The Spaniard signed a new four-year deal at The Hawthorns in February 2023 and Leicester would need to pay compensation of about £4million.

Yet he is unlikely to be the only contender, with Steve Cooper – who took Nottingham Forest up in 2022 and kept them in the top flight the following season – and Luton boss Rob Edwards also believed to have admirers at King Power Stadium.

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has not worked since leaving PSV Eindhoven, is another name proposed to the Leicester board, who approached Graham Potter in spring 2023 after sacking Brendan Rodgers.

Potter himself had just been dismissed by Chelsea and had no wish to make an instant return.

Any new manager will be aware of the possible points deduction Leicester face for breaking spending rules, and the likelihood they will have to sell players this month to ensure they stay within the rules for the current accounting period, which ends on June 30.