Former Southampton boss Claude Puel has emerged as a leading candidate for the Leicester City job.

Puel was axed by the Saints this summer, despite guiding them to an 8th place finish in the league and a League Cup final, which they lost to Manchester United.

The Frenchman has been keen to get back into the Premier League and was quick to put his name into the mix for Leicester role.

Leicester parted company with Craig Shakespeare last week after a disappointing start to the season and appointed his number two Michael Appleton as caretaker, and he guided them to a win at Swansea on – although he is not thought to be in contention.

It is understood Leicester are looking to go down the foreign route with Puel and former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini under consideration.

Sources have told me that Puel is now very much a realistic candidate, together with Pellegrini and Burnley boss Sean Dyche.

Dyche is being linked with the Everton job as well as that of Leicester, and he admits to being flattered by the prospect.

“It’s very flattering, but I’ve been linked with other situations before,” said Dyche.

“I just keep getting on with my job until things change. It’s out of my hands, I’m just getting on with what I do.”

Bookmakers are clearly taking Puel’s interest serious and he is now odds-on to succeed Shakespeare, with bet365 listing him at 1/2.

Their spokesman Steve Freeth told us: “Puel’s price has collapsed from 4/1 to 1/2 after some solid support for the Frenchman.”