Smith and Maresca among candidates for Leicester job
Leicester City have held talks with Dean Smith as they assess their options over appointing a new manager.
Smith had a summit meeting with chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Jon Rudkin, the director of football, to discuss the relegation to the Championship and the club’s plans.
While the former Aston Villa head coach was unable to prevent Leicester dropping out of the Premier League, he has some support in the boardroom after two wins and three draws from his eight matches in charge.
Smith was asked for his views on how Leicester could mount a promotion challenge next season and it is understood talks were positive.
A week after relegation was confirmed, Leicester are ready to initiate talks with candidates as they move to appoint the next permanent manager.
A number of other contenders will be considered, with Manchester City’s first-team coach, Enzo Maresca, having emerged as a potential target.
Maresca has earned a reputation at the Premier League champions as the next member of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff who could become a No1 following Mikel Arteta’s move to Arsenal. Southampton wanted him this year but the Italian has been concentrating on his work with City.
Leicester will have to wait for
Maresca, 43, as he is a key part of City’s attempt to win the treble, with the final leg on Saturday in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Scott Parker, who has won promotion from the Championship with Fulham and Bournemouth, is also on Leicester’s radar, along with Ipswich Town’s Kieran Mckenna, who secured promotion from League One this season.
Steven Gerrard, the former Aston Villa and Rangers manager, is also in the frame after holding talks with Leicester in April before Smith’s appointment.
Leicester last night confirmed the departures of Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Ayoze Perez, Tete, Ryan Bertrand, Nampalys Mendy and Daniel Amartey. The seven players will be out of contract later this month, but negotiations are ongoing over a possible deal for Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans.
The club also have to decide on the likely transfer fees for midfielders James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, who will be sold this summer. Maddison is a target for Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, while Barnes is admired by both those clubs and Aston Villa.