Leicester City: Bristol City's Liam Manning emerges as potential Ruud Van Nistelrooy replacement option | OneFootball

The Foxes are reportedly going to have a new manager for their return to the Championship.

Bristol City boss Liam Manning is being considered by Leicester City as a candidate to replace Ruud Van Nistelrooy, should the club sack him this summer.

It has been heavily reported that the Dutchman is unlikely to hold his position at the King Power Stadium until the start of the 2025/26 campaign, when Leicester will be back playing second tier football following their relegation from the Premier League.

Van Nistelrooy hasn't reflected the promise that he showed with PSV Eindhoven or in his very brief tenure as Manchester United's interim boss with the Foxes and succession plans are being mapped out, according to Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett.

Liam Manning added to Leicester's list of manager targets

On his list of reported candidates were England under-21s head coach Lee Carsley, Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl and ex-Southampton boss Russell Martin.

The latter two are well-proven in the Championship, with Martin having brought the Saints up alongside Leicester last season, but now a new second tier figure in the form of Manning has registered on the club's radar, as per Ben Jacobs.

Manning, who has led Bristol City to a spot in the top six this season thanks to their second-best points tally (63) since they won promotion in 2015.

Jacobs added that it is expected that Van Nistelrooy will leave Leicester before the start of next season.

Manning could well end up replacing City in the Premier League if he were to guide the Robins past Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals and onto victory at Wembley in the final, which could play a big role in whether the Foxes properly pursue the 39-year-old.

Leicester have only three games left until their short top flight stint comes to an end. Despite coming up as champions, they have fought an uphill battle all the way. They began their descent back down to the Championship three weekends ago when their relegation was confirmed via a 1-0 loss to champions Liverpool.

Liam Manning feels like an unlikely appointment for Leicester to make

While Manning has done a really impressive job this season, he has neither the track record nor the availability of some of the other options.

Rohl, who looks almost guaranteed to leave Hillsborough this summer, following an incredible stint with the Owls in which he miraculously saved them from relegation last season and guided them to mid-table in this one, is reported to be willing to take the job at the King Power Stadium.

Carsley has the pedigree of working with England's best young talents and Martin, who is currently out of a job, already has a promotion to the Premier League on his CV.