Leicester City ‘close in’ on former Aston Villa boss after Jesse Marsch ‘rejection’ decision

Leicester City are said to be considering a former Aston Villa boss as they search for a new manager to guide them to safety.

It has been a hugely disappointing season for the Foxes, who currently sit two points from safety and one place from bottom in the Premier League. Amid a rotten run of form, Brendan Rodgers left the club last week, and the search for a new manager is now well underway, though it’s not going how Leicester would have liked.

First choice candidate Jesse Marsch decided to withdraw from the process after deciding there was too great a risk of managing a Championship club come next season. From there, it’s claimed Leicester have turned to two possible alternatives, including a former Newcastle United and former Aston Villa boss.

The Athletic believe Leicester are now focusing on appointing former Villa boss Dean Smith, while Fabrizio Romano says Rafael Benitez is also still in the frame at this point. Smith, of course, has experience of securing promotion back to the Premier League, as well as stabilising a club after promotion, something he managed during his time with Villa.

Since then, Smith has spent time with Norwich City, but he couldn’t save the Canaries from relegation and was sacked following a disappointing start to life back in the Championship. Should Leicester turn to Smith, they will be hoping for a very different outcome as they battle to remain in the top flight, two points from safety with just eight games remaining.

For Smith, it would likely be seen as a comfortable move, given he is from the Midlands, though it is clear that Benitez has a more proven track record over his career, and it will be interesting to see how that goes down with Leicester fans should Smith be appointed.