Leicester City move one step closer to appointing Russell Martin as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s replacement

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EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal that Leicester City are closing in on the appointment of Russell Martin as their new manager.

We’ve already confirmed that Leicester are set to sack Ruud van Nistelrooy imminently and that Martin is the man the Foxes want in his place.

The 39-year-old has been out of work since December after being sacked by Southampton, but Martin revealed he is keen to get back to work.

Leicester will be considered as one of the favourites for the Championship, despite the Foxes facing a possible points deduction for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules.

Now, with Van Nistelrooy’s fate all-but-confirmed, news of where Leicester are in terms of appointing Martin has reached a new development.

• READ MORE: Why Leicester City are ‘reluctant to progress talks’ with two potential Ruud van Nistelrooy replacements

Russell Martin agrees deal in principle to join Leicester City

EFL Analysis’ Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey has revealed that Martin has agreed a deal in principle to join Leicester.

Martin revealed he wanted a full pre-season with his new club and it seems Leicester will listen to his demands.

News of Martin’s appointment hasn’t gone down well with Foxes supporters, who believe that there are better options out there.

Of course, Van Nistelrooy’s departure still needs to be officially announced, but it feels like a matter of when, not if, he is replaced by Martin.

How has Russell Martin fared in each of his seasons as a manager?

Before winning promotion via the Championship play-offs with Southampton, Martin was initially in charge of Swansea City.

Lauded for his possession-based style of play, the table didn’t suggest it worked too well.

Even with the Saints, who went on a 25-game unbeaten run, were miles off the Foxes and Ipswich Town, scraping through the play-offs in the end.

Before that fourth-placed finish, the 39-year-old guided Swansea to one bottom half finish and a top 10 finish, but at MK Dons, failed to get anything higher than 13th.

His time at Southampton in the Premier League is well-documented and it’ll be interesting if he can get this Leicester side firing.