Reports surfaced Friday morning indicating that Leicester City are considering Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl as a potential successor to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Leicester’s Premier League campaign has been nothing short of disastrous, with the Foxes collecting just 17 points from 30 games. Sitting 12 points adrift of safety, survival looks increasingly unlikely without a dramatic turnaround.
The club may already be preparing for life in the Championship, as pressure continues to mount on Van Nistelrooy, who has struggled to deliver since his much-anticipated appointment. According to the Daily Mail, Leicester are now eyeing Rohl—who has impressed at Wednesday—as a possible replacement.
Rohl has long been on Southampton’s radar, but a rift with Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri could open the door to a move elsewhere. The 35-year-old reportedly has a release clause in his contract—initially valued at £4 million for Premier League suitors—which deterred Southampton earlier this season.
However, journalist Alan Nixon claims that if Leicester are relegated, the release clause drops to just £2 million, making a summer move more financially appealing. With their drop to the second tier looking inevitable, the Foxes may choose to wait before launching a formal approach.
Rohl has earned widespread praise for revitalizing Sheffield Wednesday, guiding them to stability in the Championship despite off-field turbulence. His growing reputation has attracted interest from clubs higher up the ladder.
Leicester initially appointed Steve Cooper to replace Enzo Maresca after his move to Chelsea, but Cooper was quickly replaced by Van Nistelrooy. Unfortunately, the former Manchester United striker has failed to turn things around.
With Leicester’s relegation almost a formality, keeping Van Nistelrooy in place until the end of the season and then making a move for Rohl—at half the current cost—appears to be the logical strategy. While Southampton remain interested, Leicester’s project could prove more appealing to the young German coach, who is seen as one of the most promising managerial talents in the country.
