Despite the fact we are only six games into the Premier League season time could already be running out for Steve Cooper at Leicester City.
Leicester City are yet to win a league match since Steve Cooper replaced Enzo Maresca in the summer and have three points from a possible 18 so far.
It is fair to say that Cooper’s initial appointment was met with a mixed response given his links to rivals Nottingham Forest and the poor start to the season has done little to help with that.
Leicester were very unlucky not to hold on for a draw away at Arsenal on Saturday having fought back from 2-0 down to level the scores before a pair of goals in second-half stoppage time saw the Gunners take all three points.
However, in the week prior to that Leicester supporters’ frustrations had boiled over following draws against relegation rivals Everton at home before a 0-0 draw with League Two Walsall in the Carabao Cup.
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Leicester City should replace Steve Cooper with Graham Potter
Next up for Leicester is Bournemouth at home before a trip to fellow newly-promoted side Southampton.
Those two games could well decide Cooper’s fate and one manager Leicester are likely to consider should they sack Cooper is Graham Potter.
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Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 and was the top target in the summer but the Foxes were unable to convince the former Brighton manager to take over.
With the threat of a points deduction seemingly having gone away Potter may be more tempted and he is a manager that certainly has the backing of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.
Speaking on Potter in November 2022 when he was already starting to come under pressure at Chelsea, Guardiola said: “If Chelsea accept my humble advice, give him time and he will do well.
“They got good results but the way they play, when I saw the game against Brighton that they lost, I saw many things I remember from his period in Brighton. But he needs time, everybody needs time.
“No one has success from day one or two, I have a lot of admiration for his work.
“What he did at Brighton was beyond exceptional and I’m pretty sure with time he will do a good job, I don’t have any doubts.
“He is one of the best managers from my point of view, we have in this league.”
Potter would boost Leicester City survival chances
Whilst he struggled at Chelsea, there is no doubting that Potter is a really top coach.
Having gained attention for the job he did across seven years at Ostersund in Sweden, Cooper moved to Swansea City before really making his name at Brighton.
When the 44-year-old took over at Brighton they had just finished 17th but when he left the Seagulls for Chelsea they were fourth in the Premier League.
Potter has real pedigree in improving players as well as a reputation for being one of the best tacticians in England over the past few years, so if Leicester could convince him to take the job this time around it would give the club a real chance of survival.