Leicester City place ex-Wolves boss on manager shortlist amid Chris Wilder talks | OneFootball

Ex-Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is a contender for the Foxes hotseat.

Leicester City are closing in on appointing a new manager, with former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil reportedly in the frame along with Chris Wilder.

Football League World had exclusively revealed this past weekend that Wilder had entered talks with the Leicester hierarchy over a move to the King Power Stadium, just weeks after he had parted company with Sheffield United following their play-off final defeat to Sunderland.

Now, The Telegraph’s John Percy has stated that the ex-Bournemouth manager O'Neil is also on the shortlist, with the duo holding interviews last week in London.

The Foxes are believed to be making strides in putting Ruud van Nistelrooy’s successor in place, with the East Midlands outfit hoping to confirm the appointment later this week.

Gary O'Neil set to battle Chris Wilder for Leicester City post

After much speculation, Leicester City parted ways with Ruud van Nistelrooy after a dismal Premier League campaign, with much anticipation building over who will succeed the Dutchman.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl had been previously touted for the role alongside current Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior, while the exclusive reveal of Chris Wilder talks was brought over the course of the weekend by FLW.

But now, The Telegraph’s John Percy has revealed that Gary O’Neil is another candidate for the role, with him and Wilder believed to be firmly on the Leicester shortlist.

Percy has claimed both O’Neil and Wilder have had interviews last week in London with chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha and director of football Jon Rudkin, with an announcement drawing closer as the days go by.

The Foxes are believed to conclude their search at the end of this week, as preparations begin to fall in place ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Gary O’Neil and Chris Wilder are on different ends of the manager profile spectrum

Whoever takes the Leicester job will have major hurdles to navigate.

The club is still in the process of PSR breach claims, with the Foxes expected to be hit with a significant points deduction before the beginning of the season.

That will limit Leicester’s promotion push, with the Foxes expected to reach the play-offs at best even if they show automatic promotion form.

Meanwhile, the profile of Gary O’Neil and Chris Wilder are at different ends of the spectrum.

Wilder is such an experienced figure at second tier level, winning promotion once to the Premier League in his career, taking Sheffield United up in 2019. He has also had spells at the likes of Watford and Middlesbrough.

However, his failed stints at Vicarage Road and the Riverside Stadium, compounded with his latest play-off heartache with the Blades, could lead to some Foxes supporters questioning whether his best managerial days in the second tier are behind him.

Meanwhile, O’Neil has never once set foot in the Championship as a manager, taking over Bournemouth and doing a stellar job in the top-flight, before joining Wolves, who were in the Premier League.

It would be a massive gamble to take on O’Neil, who has only experienced the trials and tribulations of the Championship as a player, while Wilder knows the ins and outs of the division from the touchline, but has suffered recent failure.

It will be interesting to see who Leicester