Graham Potter will not be taking over as Leicester City’s manager following Steve Cooper’s dismissal, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.
Leicester parted ways with Cooper over the weekend, just 12 games into the Premier League season.
Appointed in the summer, the former Nottingham Forest boss failed to deliver results, with Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea leaving the Foxes one point above the relegation zone.
The club cited poor performances and a lack of connection between Cooper, the squad, and the fans as reasons for his dismissal.
With a crucial run of winnable fixtures ahead, Leicester are moving quickly to find a replacement.
Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, who was linked with the role in the summer after Enzo Maresca’s departure, was again approached following Cooper’s exit. However, Bailey has reported that Potter has ruled himself out of contention.
Potter Not Ready to Return
Potter, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023, is not yet ready to return to management. Despite recent public appearances suggesting otherwise, Bailey confirmed the 49-year-old is still on a managerial hiatus.
“The Leicester hierarchy insist they do not have anyone lined up to replace Steve Cooper even though he had been under pressure for some weeks and they had looked at other options,” Bailey stated.
“However, Potter was someone they wanted to talk to following Cooper’s exit but I am told as it stands he is not ready to make his return to management.”
Leicester’s Other Options
With Potter unavailable, Leicester have been linked to several other candidates. David Moyes is reportedly under consideration, with the club expected to contact the former West Ham boss imminently.
Meanwhile, West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has emerged as a leading contender, with Guillem Balague naming him as “one of the favourites” for the role.
Another potential option is Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker and interim manager.
Van Nistelrooy recently applied for the Coventry City job and has also been linked with a managerial position at Hamburg.
Leicester will need to act swiftly to stabilise their season, with the team precariously placed in the Premier League and desperate to avoid a return to the Championship.
