Which out-of-contract players should Leicester City keep this summer
By Matt Taylor
Christian Fuchs
Christian Fuchs signed for Leicester as a free agent in the summer of 2015, just four months after scoring for Schalke at the Bernabeu. The Austrian arrived with all the star-power and personality of a champion, and it didn’t take long for him to live up to that mantle.
In his first season at the King Power, Fuchs kept 15 clean sheets and was the league’s second highest for interceptions, registering a whopping 98, as he helped City to a famous title win, stats via Fantasy Football Scout. The 32-year-old is best known for his gigantic throw-in, causing defences as much problems as a corner can. This specialist skill was one of many factors that saw the Foxes beat the odds to life the Premier League.
Above all, the ex-Austria captain is an extremely consistent performer at left-back. For wingers, he is hard to get past and always looks at ease on the ball. Also, Fuchs is in the twilight stage of his career, which makes him the perfect backup to newly capped England international, Ben Chilwell.
However, Fuchs is an ambitious man with dreams of playing in the NFL, as he stated back in 2016:
"“I’m still a soccer player, and obviously my main focus is on this season, but it’s a dream of mine to kick in the NFL. And there’s nothing wrong with dreaming, right?” Via ESPN"
With a wife and two children already living in New York, the Austrian may not even sign an extension to his contract, even if was offered.
Verdict:
Fuchs is an amicable character who seems perfectly content in this relaxed role. Although his heart will remain in Leicester, it seems inevitable that he will make a transatlantic switch sooner rather than later. The Foxes have a decent replacement currently out on loan at Ipswich in Callum Elder, who has the ability to provide backup for Chilwell.