Claude Puel has emerged as a shock contender for the Leicester City job with the club expected to speak to the former Southampton manager.

Leicester this week sacked Craig Shakespeare with no immediate replacement lined up and Michael Appleton stepping in on a caretaker basis.

Director of football Jon Rudkin is now leading the process to find Shakespeare’s full-time successor and is likely to speak to a number of potential candidates.

One of those is Puel, who was sacked by Southampton in June after leading the club to the League Cup final and an eighth-place Premier League finish.

The Saints’ decision to replace Puel was viewed as being harsh in many quarters, although his style of football was criticised by the club’s fans and he was accused of being unpopular with certain members of the playing squad.