Leicester City identify Championship manager as Enzo Maresca replacement?

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 28 May 2024

Leicester identify Championship manager as Maresca replacement?

Leicester City are reportedly already taking steps to find a successor for Enzo Maresca, who is seemingly close to becoming the head coach of Chelsea.

Leicester City have reportedly identified a potential successor for Chelsea-bound Enzo Maresca.

Having won the Championship title, the Foxes had hoped to be focusing on a return to the Premier League with the Italian still in the dugout.

However, over the past 24 hours, it has become increasingly likely that the 44-year-old will make the switch to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea having allegedly made an official approach.

While it may take a number of days to finalise a deal with Maresca currently out in Marbella on holiday, the general consensus is that Leicester will soon require another head coach.

If Maresca does agree terms with Chelsea, Leicester will have at least £8m to use in search of an alternative courtesy of a release clause in their current head coach's contract.

Despite their well-documented financial issues, that will provide them with more leeway to approach a manager currently in work should they so wish.

West Bromwich Albion's manager Carlos Corberan on April 20, 2024 © Reuters

Leicester take interest in Corberan

According to talkSPORT football editor Jason Bourne, who was commenting on X, West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan is on their shortlist.

The Spaniard has been a major hit at The Hawthorns since arriving in October 2022, guiding the Baggies to the Championship playoffs during 2023-24 before losing to eventual winners Southampton in the semi-finals.

Corberan is tied to a contract until 2027, while he is currently expected to be backed by the club's new owners in the transfer market having had to previously wheel and deal due to their financial issues under the previous owners.

Nevertheless, it appears that the 41-year-old may be provided with a decision to make over whether he wants to entertain a move to the East Midlands.

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan on February 10, 2024 © Reuters

Why may Corberan be targeted?

During the run-in, West Brom produced an impressive performance against Leicester at the King Power Stadium, the visitors by far the better team but ultimately made to pay for squandering numerous chances in a 2-1 defeat.

Generally speaking, though, Corberan has now enjoyed strong spells at both Huddersfield Town - who he guided to the Championship playoff final in 2022 - and the West Midlands side.

While he is yet to manage a Premier League game, Marcelo Bielsa's former first-team coach at Leeds United has built such a reputation where an eventual move to a club in that division feels inevitable, unless he takes West Brom into the top flight next season.

As it stands, Corberan boasts a record of 39 wins, 18 draws and 27 defeats during his time at West Brom.