Steve Cooper is in talks to return to the Premier League six months after sacking Nottingham Forest

Steve Cooper is becoming a leading contender to become Leicester’s new manager, talkSPORT understands.

Cooper has been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in December.

Leicester have held initial talks with the Welshman about replacing Enzo Maresca, who was recently announced as Chelsea’s new manager.

The Foxes are preparing for life in the Premier League after sealing an immediate return to the top flight by winning the Championship title last season.

West Brom’s Carlos Corberan has been widely tipped as the front-runner for the vacancy, but his asking price could be a stumbling block.

Cooper’s potential appointment would prove divisive for Foxes fans given his links to East Midlands rivals Leicester.

Moreover, there will be questions about how his style of play translates to a team trained in the art of possession under Maresca.

Cooper has been largely pragmatic during his tenure at Forest. In the early days following promotion to the Premier League, his side looked to press high and aggressively, but he quickly adapted tactics following a run of poor results.

It is this adaptability that will be of most interest to Leicester, who will no doubt have studied his time in charge at Swansea. In Wales, Cooper adopted a much more possession-based style.

Midfielder Matty Grimes was perhaps the best example of this, dropping deep to play short, quick passes with the defense before looking to advance the ball – a very similar role to the one Maresca played on Harry Winks last season.

This fluidity in Cooper’s management will surely appeal to Leicester’s hierarchy, who are well aware that they will not be able to dominate games in the same way they did in the Championship.

Hopefully this will help the club avoid the same fate as Burnley, who dominated the second division the year before in the 2022/23 season.

The Clarets amassed 101 points to win the Championship, but then-manager Vincent Kompany’s refusal to adapt his philosophy saw them relegated from the Premier League at the first attempt.

Furthermore, deducting Leicester’s points potential has made their search for a new manager even more difficult.

Cooper’s experience, not only in the top flight, but also in the Championship, may prove decisive, the club will have to prepare in the long term for all eventualities.

However, Steve Bruce told talkSPORT this week that he is open to accepting the Leicester job despite their potential punishment.

“A points deduction wouldn’t put me off,” he smiled. “Leicester, you know where I am! I mean, what a wonderful opportunity it is all of a sudden.

“You know, they might have a few problems but Leicester have been a great club for the last few years, of course the fairy tale of winning the Premier League a few years ago.”