'Survival is the priority and Cooper will need solidarity'

It has been a fluid situation for Leicester City in their search to replace Enzo Maresca.

Graham Potter held talks and Carlos Corberan was admired, but Steve Cooper is now expected to be the Foxes' next manager.

Even on Tuesday, Potter was still the frontrunner but, having been unable to strike a deal with the Foxes, former Nottingham Forest boss Cooper became the obvious choice.

It promises to be a challenge, with a potential points deduction looming and another second charge for breaching profit and sustainability rules possible if the club is not compliant by 30 June. It means a potential sale of players before the end of the month.

Cooper, who guided England to Under-17 World Cup glory in 2017, knows how to do more than just firefight following his time at Forest, but he will need to bring his extinguisher with him to King Power Stadium once an expected deal is finalised.

He took over a Forest side bottom of the Championship in September 2021 and guided them to the Premier League, ending a 23-year top flight exile just under nine months later.

The former Swansea City boss fostered unity at the City Ground and it is something which will be needed again in what could be a battle against relegation, especially if Leicester start the season - with Tottenham first up on 19 August - on minus points.

Despite winning the Championship and returning to the Premier League at the first attempt, there was never a complete buy-in to Maresca's style from the Foxes fans, but Cooper will hope to create that togetherness going back into the top flight.

That could negate any minor animosity towards an ex-Nottingham Forest manager moving across the East Midlands.

Survival is the main priority next season and Cooper will need solidarity.