Steve Cooper holds talks over Premier League return with ex-Nottingham Forest boss out of work since December

LEICESTER have held talks with former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper over replacing Enzo Maresca.

Cooper, 44, has been out of work since being sacked by Forest in December last year with the club in 17th.

PASteve Cooper has held talks with Leicester[/caption]

GettyIt comes after the club lost Enzo Maresca to Chelsea[/caption]

The Welshman guided the Foxes rivals from the foot of the Championship table back to the Premier League before keeping them up in the club’s first top flight season.

Maresca’s departure from the King Power was confirmed on Monday, with Leicester making their disappointment clear.

The Championship winners pocketed £10million in compensation for the Italian and his staff.

It is not clear yet whether Cooper would accept the role or if he is first choice.

West Brom boss Carlos Corberan, who took the Baggies into the play-offs, is being considered as is Luton Town‘s Rob Edwards.

Cooper and Edwards were both considered by Ipswich Town in case of Kieran McKenna‘s departure.

Whoever takes over at Leicester is going to face a challenging task to keep them in the Premier League.

The Foxes face starting next season with a points deduction after being charged with a breach of profit and sustainability rules.

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Furthermore, in order to avoid another breach, sales must be made before June 30 meaning a number of key players could be leaving the club.

Leicester were promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking having racked up a tally of 97 points on their way to the Championship title.

They now face a balancing act between player sales and building a squad competitive enough to remain in the top flight.