Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

3 Players Leicester should sell in the summer

By Thomas Bradley Alderman

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: A detailed view of the boots of James Maddison of Leicester City as he prepares to take a corner during the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United at The King Power Stadium on January 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: A detailed view of the boots of James Maddison of Leicester City as he prepares to take a corner during the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United at The King Power Stadium on January 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City’s French midfielder Nampalys Mendy sits on the pitch before being substituted off injured during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on January 22, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Leicester City’s French midfielder Nampalys Mendy sits on the pitch before being substituted off injured during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on January 22, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

Papy Mendy

This writer has nothing against Nampalys Mendy, he’s a likeable seeming guy. On the field he’s proven himself capable for Leicester. One issue, though, is out of his hands: the players ahead of him in a defensive-midfield role are very proficient, almost iconic.

However, when called upon the former OGC Nice man is assured, calm and very busy in the middle. It’s not just his small stature and French nationality which makes one think of his countryman and fellow tackler in the centre, N’golo Kante. No, Mendy also sometimes appears to be inexplicably in two places at once on the field through determination. Along with a very keen sense of reading opposition attacks.

Another problem Mendy has is that he is perennially injured, making many Foxes fans pity their reliable player. While the low figure of 39 Premier League appearances for Leicester City over three seasons means he may request, or certainly not reject, a move elsewhere this summer.

Not to mention another factor working against Mendy: the bulk of his features were under Claude Puel. The two had a compatible playing relationship having worked together before arriving on Filbert Way.

When the transfer window does open once more in June, Leicester may consider bids for the now 27-year-old. Obviously that is not an over-the-hill age, but Mendy may want to start playing regularly again. We can’t see that happening often at Leicester under Rodgers, despite the boss admiring the athlete.

A deeper roster befitting Champions League football is necessary. Of course Hamza Choudhury is behind Wilfred Ndidi  but the Englishman is ahead of Mendy in the pecking order, in FoL’s opinion.