Former Aston Villa and Norwich City head coach Dean Smith is reportedly in talks over taking the reins at Leicester City until the end of the season.
The Foxes relieved Brendan Rodgers of his duties earlier this month in the wake of a late 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, which left them 19th in the Premier League table.
Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell assumed first-team responsibilities for the weekend's loss to Bournemouth, as the Leicester board search for a permanent or short-term replacement.
Former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch was initially regarded as the favourite to take over, but talks with the American have since broken down.
Instead, The Athletic reports that Smith is now the leading contender to be appointed until the end of the season, and discussions have already reached an advanced stage.
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The 52-year-old has been away from the dugout since being relieved of his duties by Norwich in December, and he is poised to take over at the King Power Stadium on an interim basis.
Should Smith and Leicester strike an agreement, the Englishman would reportedly look to bring Craig Shakespeare back to the Foxes as his number two.
Smith could supposedly be in charge in time for the weekend's trip to Premier League leaders Manchester City, as he prepares for his fifth head coach job in English football.
Smith began his managerial career at Walsall in 2011, reaching the EFL Trophy final during his four-year spell before taking over at Brentford in the winter of 2015.
The 52-year-old took charge of 143 games in three years at Brentford prior to being hired by Aston Villa, taking the Lions to the Premier League in his first season in charge.
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Villa also finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the 2019-20 EFL Cup, and Smith was named the Premier League's Manager of the Month in December 2020, but a five-game losing streak 12 months later led to his sacking.
Smith was hired by Norwich only eight days after being given the boot by Villa, but he could not keep the Canaries in the Premier League and lasted just 56 games before being sacked last December.
A solitary goal from Philip Billing propelled Bournemouth to a 1-0 win over Leicester at the King Power on Saturday, with James Maddison's mishit backpass allowing the Dane to steal in.
The Foxes have now lost seven of their last eight Premier League games - including each of their last three - to sit two points adrift of safety with eight games left to play.
Ben Knapton
