A fresh managerial update could now open the door for Leicester City to sign a coach Jose Mourinho loves.
The search for a replacement is ongoing at the King Power Stadium after Steve Cooper was sacked on Sunday.
As is so often the case when a coach leaves unexpectedly, a host of names have been linked with the role.
Graham Potter has turned Leicester City down as he is not ready to make a return to management yet.
Elsewhere, Carlos Corberan has spoken out on links to the Foxes this week, with the Championship boss thought to be one of the favourites.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is a Leicester target as well, while a fresh insight into the club’s pursuit of a new manager has now been provided.
And it is not great news for fans who may want to see someone like Corberan or another Premier League manager brought in.
- READ MORE: £8m ace will be thrilled Graham Potter snubbed Leicester City again – they have an awkward history
Leicester City can now sign Aitor Karanka
Reports emerging on Wednesday claim that financial restrictions will affect Leicester’s new manager search.
It is claimed the Midlands outfit paid almost £90m when they sacked Brendan Rogers two years ago and the compensation owed to Cooper has hampered the club even more.
Now, it is looking likely that Leicester will have to sign an out-of-work manager in order to avoid having to pay another club out.
With this in mind, they should look to sign former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest man, Aitor Karanka.
Leicester’s defensive record is a worry this season but the Spaniard would no doubt turn their fortunes around on that front.
When Middlesbrough won promotion from the Championship under Karanka in 2015/16 they shipped just 31 goals in 46 games – only Watford and Preston North End (both 30) have conceded fewer goals in a Championship campaign.
Karanka was sacked by Boro the following season but when he was dismissed, the Teessiders boasted the sixth-best defence in the Premier League behind only Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton.
| Stats | Steve Cooper Leicester City record | Aitor Karanka Middlesbrough record |
| Wins | 4 | 80 |
| Draws | 3 | 40 |
| Losses | 7 | 49 |
| Points per match | 1.07 | 1.66 |
| Goals scored | 23 | 235 |
| Goals conceded | 27 | 159 |
Jose Mourinho already told Leicester City what Aitor Karanka would offer
As well as being able to sure up Leicester’s shaky backline, Karanka is currently out of work, meaning he would likely be available for fairly cheap.
He does work for UEFA as a technical observer but has held that role since 2020 and had other jobs in that time.
The former defender’s last stint in management came in 2023 with Maccabi Tel Aviv but he got his start as a coach when working as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.
The pair then faced off in the Premier League back in 2016, with Mourinho giving a glowing review of Karanka, as per ESPN.
He said: “He has studied and has built up experience as a player, assistant coach and now as a manager. That makes him very well qualified for the role. I’m not in the slightest surprised by what he has achieved to date. Karanka is a man who displays great emotional stability, he’s very calm, quiet and has a fine personality. I only hope that he goes on to achieve bigger things.
“He always proved to me that he possessed one very important trait and that was honesty. He’s a loyal man with great moral principles. When an individual has those traits, it doesn’t matter what line of work they’re in, they’ll always be at an advantage.”