Former Leicester City assistant boss Michael Appleton believes they'll struggle to land their top manager target after sacking Claude Puel.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez and Celtic's Brendan Rodgers have both been linked with the post.

“Rafa has got a fantastic reputation for being very well-organised, picking up results against sides that are expected to win the game, instead of his teams," Appleton told BBC 5Live.

“If this would have happened a few months ago, there might have been a chance of it happening.

“But, I think with the way Rafa is and the way he ended last season, he'll be looking to do something similar this season.

“It will then be seen as a massive achievement.

“The timing is a bit of a strange one.

“I might be completely wrong, but I get the impression that it's not something they were going to do or thought too much about.

“Ultimately to take a manager on now like Rafa or Rodgers, it's going to be one hell of a job trying to pull them away from their club."