Leicester City receive Cesc Fabregas blow as Ruud Van Nistelrooy decision looms | OneFootball

The Dutch boss of the Foxes looks likely to leave the club.

Leicester City are set to miss out on one of their reported managerial targets, Cesc Fabregas, who had been earmarked as a potential replacement for Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

It looks ever more likely that the former Manchester United striker and interim manager won't be at the King Power Stadium when it welcomes Championship football back in the 2025/26 season.

Van Nistelrooy had originally stated that he planned to stay with Leicester come what may, after he signed a contract in December which runs until the summer of 2027.

However, more recent comments from the 48-year-old stated that he felt the club needed to make a decision on his future sooner rather than later, as per the BBC. Now, according to Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett, it is becoming "increasingly unlikely" that Van Nistelrooy will still be Leicester's manager next season.

City got worse after the Dutchman was appointed. He had a very brief honeymoon period when he picked up four points from his first two games, but they have won just once since then and haven't scored at home in nine outings at the King Power. Those facts combined to relegate the club with five games left in the season.

Cesc Fabregas' future becomes clearer amid Leicester interest

They have already been linked with a number of potential candidates, but the Foxes are now set to have one less option to choose from as Fabregas, the manager of Italian side Como, is set to stay with his current club.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder has opted to remain with the Serie A outfit, despite interest from Leicester as well as RB Leipzig, with plans already starting to come together for the club's summer transfer window.

Football League World's sister publication, GiveMeSport, reported that the Foxes were keen on Fabregas on Monday, but that he was also not the only one that they may pin their hopes on should they decide to part ways with Van Nistelrooy.

They added that Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and former Southampton and Swansea City boss Russell Martin are also on the list of candidates. Sean Dyche is another name that City have been linked with, as per Football Insider.

Fabregas was a very ambitious target for Leicester

Leicester were always going to struggle to out-woo the Spaniard in a battle with RB Leipzig, had he decided to move on from Como this summer. The prospect of working with one of Germany's top clubs, who are known for developing young players, is much more appealing than a financially-wounded Championship side.

If they want to go down the young, exciting route again, like they did with Enzo Maresca last summer, it may have to be someone with a similar profile to the Italian's; they will be easier to attract than a name like Fabregas.