Leicester City will reportedly not hold any advanced talks with prospective coaching candidates until the future of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who is expected to leave the club this summer, has been decided.
A late flurry of improved results, picking up seven points from their last three matches, is unlikely to spare the Dutchman from getting the sack before the start of next season, when Leicester will play Championship football for the second time in three seasons.
Their relegation was confirmed by a 1-0 loss to eventual Premier League champions Liverpool just over a month ago. They now have just one game left against AFC Bournemouth before the Foxes officially become a second tier club again.
2024/25 Premier League table (as of 21/05/25)
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For their return to the Championship, a number of bosses with experience at the level have been sounded out as potential options. Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl and former Southampton boss Russell Martin are the two most heavily linked with Van Nistelrooy's position. The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday that Martin is set to be appointed by Leicester this week.
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Despite these links, it has now been said by Sky Sports that Leicester will not advance with any discussions with potential successors to the Dutchman's throne before his own future is sorted.
Van Nistelrooy, who signed a contract until the summer of 2027 when he took over from Steve Cooper in late November, has called on the club multiple times to make a decision on whether he will lead City in the Championship, more for their sake and than his.
He is expected to leave the club, a fact that has been widely stated for a while now, and discussions about his departure are set to begin next week once the 2024/25 campaign is over, as per Sky Sports.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Contrary to the Daily Mail's reporting, Rob Dorsett has claimed that Leicester do not know who their first-team boss will be next season. Discussions with the former Saints head coach's representatives are thought to have been had, but nothing more than that.
Leicester would need to pay a compensation fee in order to get Rohl out of his Wednesday deal, which has the same remaining time on it as Van Nistelrooy's. Sky have stated that the amount halves for Championship clubs compared to their Premier League counterparts, but Southampton, who are also reportedly interested in the German, are unwilling to pay even the second-tier rate for the 36-year-old, as per the BBC.
Leicester need a pronto decision on Van Nistelrooy
The longer Leicester wait to pull the trigger on Van Nistelrooy, the more likely they are to miss out on their summer targets, both manager and player-wise.
You can understand, and respect, why they are pushing back his stay of execution until the end officially comes following Sunday's trip to face the Cherries, but they surely have to go into next week knowing their plan of action.
They don't have time for stalling and negotiating, umming and ahing: Leicester have to know, by now, whether Van Nistelrooy is the man for them going forward. If not, well let's get on with it ASAP then.