Leicester City confirmed the addition of centre-back Jonny Evans last Friday. The 30-year old joins Ricardo Pereira as the first of the Foxes’ summer signings. What else is needed, though? Let’s look at the requirements.
Goalkeepers
With third-choice keeper Ben Hamer choosing to leave the club, Leicester City may consider the addition of a new shotstopper. This is unlikely, though, particularly with Daniel Iversen doing a steady job for the U-23s. Kasper Schmeichel and Eldin Jakupovic will vie for the starting role with Iversen as back-up if required.
Full-backs
Title-winning pair Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs now have real competition for the full-back position. Both Ben Chilwell and new signing Ricardo Pereira offer a younger and more attack-minded option. These four will compete for these positions. A season-long loan for young left-back Callum Elder is expected, with a Championship club being the likely destination.
Centre-backs
There is speculation that Claude Puel could operate with three centre-backs next season, but looking at Puel’s history, there is no evidence to support this.
Therefore, the squad will potentially only feature four centre-backs. Jonny Evans will join Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire, with the fourth position most likely decided by which players leave the club initially.
Both Yohan Benalouane and Daniel Amartey have represented their countries as centre-backs; either one would be a suitable fourth choice. Aleksandar Dragovic is the most likely incoming centre-back, if both Benalouane and Amartey leave the club in the summer.
Central midfield
The Foxes’ squad is expected to operate with five central midfield players. Adrien Silva, Vicente Iborra, Wilfred Ndidi and Hamza Choudhury will take four of these berths.
There are a number of options for Claude Puel regarding the fifth player. Puel has been very vocal in his support for Matty James, but do constant injuries for the English midfielder concern him? Could the squad reintegrate Andy King or Nampalys Mendy?
Both have returned from loans and Mendy in particular has experience of working with Puel at OGC Nice. There is the Danny Drinkwater wildcard, too, with rumours regarding his departure from Chelsea gathering pace. Could Leicester City bring him back to the King Power Stadium?
Attacking midfield
With the impending departure of Riyad Mahrez, two recruitments are certainly required in this area of the pitch.
Again, five players are expected to compete for the position with Marc Albrighton, Demarai Gray and Fousseni Diabate taking the first three. City will need to spend big to replace Mahrez, and rumours regarding Xherdan Shaqiri are encouraging.
An attacking central midfielder appears to be the key addition this summer, though, with James Maddison and Jack Grealish in pole position to fill this role.
Strikers
The futures of Islam Slimani, Ahmed Musa and Leonardo Ulloa will no doubt reveal if the Foxes are to spend any money strengthening their attack this season.
With only four strikers required, title winners Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki already have increased competition through Kelechi Iheanacho. There are rumours circulating that Marcus Rashford could fill the fourth spot, with a season-long loan from Manchester United anticipated.
But with Slimani, Musa and Ulloa all commanding high salaries, it is expected that this will not happen unless at least two of those are to leave the club.
Conclusion
You would ideally expect two further additions, a wide attacking midfield player and a central attacking midfield player, while Nampalys Mendy could be reintegrated to the squad in the centre.
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The additions of another centre back and a striker are dependent on the club moving on the likes of Benalouane, Amartey, Slimani, Musa and Ulloa.