Exclusive: Leicester City in advanced talks to appoint Russell Martin
Leicester City are in advanced talks to appoint Russell Martin as their new manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The relegated Premier League club are closing in on a deal that would see the former Southampton boss named as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s successor.
Football Insider exclusively revealed earlier on Tuesday (20 May) that Leicester have decided to sack Van Nistelrooy as they assess the market for alternatives.
An announcement will be made once Leicester are confident they have wrapped up a deal for Martin to come in as his immediate replacement.
The 39-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Southampton last December, and is keen to return to management ahead of next season.
Russell Martin in pole position to take Leicester City job
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider last month that Martin is in pole position for Leicester as they want to plan ahead for next season.
A number of contenders have been considered for the role, but the 39-year-old’s recent achievement of leading Southampton to promotion is seen as a valuable asset.
When the Saints were relegated in 2023, Martin was tasked with bringing them back to the Premier League, and did so at the first time of asking.
Meanwhile, he would be allowed to establish a clear direction at the King Power Stadium, something that was lacking under both Steve Cooper and Van Nistelrooy.
This comes after Brown, who knows the boss well from his time at Old Trafford, told Football Insider that Van Nistelrooy will be sacked by Leicester after a disastrous season.
Sean Dyche dealt blow in King Power job ambitions
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 12 May that Sean Dyche wants to take over at Leicester and has been under consideration for the Foxes.
He left Everton in January and was replaced by David Moyes, but now lives in the midlands, close to Leicester’s state-of-the-art training base and the King Power Stadium.
However, it now appears Dyche has been beaten to the role by Martin, and progress is being made towards reaching a full agreement.
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