RAFA BENITEZ and Dean Smith are in the frame to take over as Leicester boss after talks with Jesse Marsch broke down on Sunday.
Benitez has been in contact with Foxes bosses since Brendan Rodgers was sacked nine days ago.
Now he could be asked to take charge of relegation-threatened Leicester for the final eight games of the season - starting with a daunting trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
Leicester have shown an interest in the ex-Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton boss Benitez, 62, in the past.
They feel the Spaniard can stop the Foxes leaking the goals that have dumped them in the bottom three.
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Smith is also believed to be under consideration to take over as interim boss until the end of the season.
First team coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell have been in caretaker charge since Rodgers' exit.
But they have lost both of their home games against Aston Villa and - crucially - relegation rivals Bournemouth.
Benitez was an early front-runner for the job after sacked Chelsea boss Graham Potter made it clear he was not about to make a quick return to management.
Leicester opened talks with ex-Leeds chief Marsch - who left Elland Road two months ago.
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But no agreement was reached with the American - who was also close to getting the Southampton job.
It now looks likely Leicester will appoint an interim manager before re-assessing the situation in the summer.
By that time, they could be in the Championship and their targets will have changed.
Leicester have considered a number of experienced managers for the role, including Sam Allardyce and Martin O'Neill, who was last in charge of the Foxes almost two decades ago.
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