Man Utd legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to be named Leicester boss and already has immediate seismic task

And the first port of business will be to win over a group of unruly players, who lost faith in Cooper in rapid fashion.

The Foxes are precariously positioned just one point above the relegation zone after winning only two Premier League matches under Cooper's brief 157-day tenure.

Van Nistelrooy joins Leicester just two weeks after departing his role as Manchester United's interim manager, where he impressed with three wins and one draw in four matches.

Two of those victories came against his new employers - a commanding 5-2 win in the Carabao Cup last 16 and a 3-0 Premier League triumph earlier this month.

The Dutchman left Old Trafford after being informed he would not be part of new manager Ruben Amorim's backroom staff, having initially joined as an assistant coach in July.

The 48-year-old's only previous experience as a senior manager came during the 2022-23 season at PSV Eindhoven, where he began his playing career.

His spell at the Dutch club proved successful, leading PSV to KNVB Cup glory in 2023.

However, Van Nistelrooy's tenure at PSV came to an early end, with the Dutchman citing a lack of support within the club as the reason for his departure.

While Van Nistelrooy's appointment appears imminent, it remains unclear whether he will be in the dugout for Saturday's trip to Brentford.

The proximity to the weekend fixture means it is unlikely he will take charge of the team, with first-team coach Ben Dawson expected to lead the side.

Leicester face a challenging run of fixtures, with a midweek clash against West Ham following the Brentford match, before games against Brighton, Newcastle and Wolves.

Leicester had previously shown interest in Graham Potter and Carlos Corberan before appointing Cooper in the summer, but held productive talks with Van Nistelrooy this week.

The club's reluctance to pay compensation made Van Nistelrooy, who is available without a fee, an attractive option.

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Cooper's dismissal came amid concerns over poor performances and reports of friction within the squad, despite having support from senior players including Jamie Vardy.

The players recently attended a Christmas party in Copenhagen, where they were filmed dancing at a nightclub.