Nantes chairman Waldemar Kita has confirmed that the club are close to appointing Claudio Ranieri as their new manager.

The 65-year-old has been out of work since being controversially sacked by Leicester City in February, just nine months after leading the Foxes to the Premier League title.

Crystal Palace had been linked with a move for the Italian, but Kita revealed that Ranieri is on the verge of a return to management in France having been given the green light by the league due to rules preventing over 65s from taking new jobs.

"The league are in agreement. I believe that it's only the French Football Federation, with Mr [Raymond] Domenech {the LFP president), who are blocking the signing a little. I don't know the reason why," he told French radio.

"What interests us is his experience as a footballer and a coach. We know very well that he has coached the biggest teams in Europe."

Nantes finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season.