Leicester City are eyeing up former Southampton manager Russell Martin as a shock replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy should he leave the club this summer, it has been claimed.

Van Nistelrooy, 48, replaced Steve Cooper at King Power Stadium in November following a disappointing start to the season. After winning his first game - a 3-1 success over West Ham - and drawing his second against Brighton, the Foxes have since embarked on a horrendous run of results.

In fact, Leicester have lost 14 of their last 15 games in the Premier League. City have scored just four times in the process and last won at Tottenham back in January. Since beating Spurs, the Foxes have lost seven on the bounce, conceded 18 times and failed to find the net once.

That has increased the pressure on under-fire boss Van Nistelrooy, who is reported to be 'clinging to his job' with Martin emerging as a surprise target to replace him. According to The Sun, Martin's work at Southampton has the caught the eye of the Leicester hierarchy.

Martin, 39, guided Southampton to promotion back to the Premier League, alongside Leicester, last season but was sacked in December after picking up just five points from their opening 16 matches. Despite this, Martin has 'significant support' at King Power.

Having helped Saints win promotion with a ball-playing, possession-based style of football, Martin's approach could suit several Leicester players, who were used to a similar system under Enzo Maresca last season. Sean Dyche has also been mentioned.

But should Martin be Leicester's first-choice to replace Van Nistelrooy? Here, we have our say...

Kieran King

For me, I wouldn't be against the idea of Russell Martin coming in and replacing Ruud van Nistelrooy. He got Southampton back up to the Premier League with a distinct style - something that is lacking at City right now - and his possession-based approach would suit the squad.

Harry Winks, for example, would thrive in Martin's system and City are going to need him - and others - to step up again in the Championship next season. I don't think Martin is the worst shout and I would back him to steer the Foxes back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Although City are no doubt going to lose players this summer, I think they are going to keep a good core and Martin could help bring the feel-good factor, as he did at Southampton, back to the club.

Jordan Blackwell

Ideally, Leicester City need to find somebody who can both get them out of the Championship at the first time of asking and then keep them in the Premier League. That looks to be a tough ask.

If one of Leeds, Burnley or Sheffield United don’t come up this season, there’s going to be four big contenders for promotion at a minimum next term. It’s going to be competitive and so getting the right manager is key.

Martin obviously brings experience of promotion, even if that did come through the lottery of the play-offs. His style of play would fit with what City were going for under Enzo Maresca and, as such, would likely go down well with the players who enjoyed the Italian’s approach.

But while Saints fans took to Martin, the doubts in the stands over Maresca would likely return. Martin arguably has an even greater focus on relentlessly retaining possession and is similarly stubborn in his belief that that’s the best plan.

To get the fans on side, he would need to make sure there is plenty of quick, attacking football in there too, and not just possession for possession’s sake. Obviously there is the issue around Southampton’s performance in the Premier League this season, Martin taking just five points from 16 games.

Will he have learned lessons from that experience that he can take into his next job? You’d hope so.

All in all, the reports don't bode well for Ruud van Nistelrooy. But increasingly feels like City will need a fresh start under new management to avoid a potential hangover from this torrid campaign.

Josh Holland

Last season, I thought Southampton were familiar to Leicester City in the sense of their playing style. But when they came against each other, in the 4-1 and 5-0 wins for City, I had doubts.

Martin struggled in the Premier League and his bluntness in not adapting his style to the sheer nature of the top-flight is a concern. But his Southampton team, last season in the Championship, were dominating games and scoring for fun.

There are comparisons to his football philosophy that will be attractive for Leicester. He’s without a job meaning there’s no need to pay for his services and he has a point to prove.

For me, Ruud van Nistelrooy stays for next season. I think it's too harsh to judge a manager to work with a squad that has been poorly constructed under a manager who shouldn't have been in the job in the first place.

But if Ruud does exit, Martin is a favourite and it's clear why. He will have to come, be attacking and almost get the Foxes back in the top division inside his first season.

A fresh start under a new manager is tempting. But names like Liam Rosenior, Danny Rohl and Sean Dyche are all options who would also be an exciting appointment.

Amie Wilson

I was slightly underwhelmed when I first read the links to Martin but it’s something that has grown on me as I’ve thought more about it.

If Ruud van Nistelrooy is to be replaced, then the two names I would like to be targeted are Danny Rohl and Liam Rosenior - both have experience in the Championship and are young, up and coming managers who are having success with their current clubs.

At this time, I think Martin would be my third choice. He does have a clear philosophy of playing possession-based football, and while it may not go down too well with some fans in the stand, it did yield success under Enzo Maresca last time in the Championship.

It's a style that the squad like too and should get the best out of the likes of Harry Winks and possibly Oliver Skipp.

While his side had to rely on the play-offs, Martin did ultimately lead Southampton to promotion too. He will have to show he has learned from his time in the Premier League with Southampton.

But in a recent appearance on Sky’s Monday Night Football he admitted that he would have done things differently if he had the chance to do it again. That’s a good sign.

If he does come in, I’d certainly be more than willing to give him a chance to show that he’s learned from his mistakes.