Leicester City: 53-year-old Englishman is now a top contender to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy | OneFootball

Sean Dyche has emerged as the leading fancy to be the Foxes' next head coach

Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche has been touted for a return to football as he emerges as the favourite to replace under-pressure Ruud Van Nistelrooy at relegated Leicester City.

The Englishman has been out of work since his sacking from Everton in early January. However, it was expected that the former centre-back would find a new club rather quickly, given his reputation from his time with Burnley.

Now, according to the latest reports from The Sun, Dyche is seen as the man to get Leicester out of the Championship at the first time of asking by some of the leading figures in the club's hierarchy.

The 53-year-old already has two top flight promotions on his CV, and could look to add a third with the Foxes next season, should he take the job.

Van Nistelrooy is still unsure of his fate, and will likely be waiting until the end of the current season to find out.

But with the constant rumblings of Leicester looking at potential replacements, you get the feeling that he already knows what's coming.

Leicester City eye Sean Dyche for promotion rebuild

This season has been nothing short of a disaster for the 2023/24 Championship winners. The Foxes were relegated with five games to go, as all three promoted teams were quickly shown the door of the Premier League.

Long-term stability in the top flight is surely on Leicester's agenda in the medium to long term, but they must earn their place in the Premier League back next season first.

This has seen the former FA Cup winners turn to the unemployed Dyche as a potential candidate to replace Van Nistelrooy at the King Power Stadium this summer, according to reports by The Sun.

The 53-year-old has two promotions to the top flight on his CV already, and has proven to be a manager that can keep a team afloat in the Premier League for longer than anyone would've expected.

The report also stated that sources close to the former Everton boss was ready to answer the phone if Leicester came calling during the season, but he was ignored.

Now based in the Midlands, a move to the Foxes would be a convenient next job for Dyche, as he looks to make his return to the dugout after almost six months out.

Sean Dyche offers something other managerial candidates don't

Many football fans would be thrilled to see Dyche return to the dugout soon. The 53-year-old has become a very popular and well-loved figure in English football over the last decade.

As mentioned, Leicester are looking for a promotion winner who also has a strong record in the top flight, as they look to rebuild towards becoming an established Premier League side.

This is where Dyche has the edge over other candidates that have been mentioned, such as Russell Martin. Whilst the latter is also a promotion winner, his top flight record is very poor, and therefore he might be unable to complete the second phase of the rebuild.

The former Burnley boss has a proven track record when it comes to keeping a team in the Premier League. He turned the Clarets into a force to be reckoned with, before heading to Everton and steadying the ship.

Dyche aligns with Leicester's long-term goals as a club, and he could look to repeat his exploits at Turf Moor at the King Power Stadium. This certainly gives him an edge in comparison to other candidates for the role.