Who should Leicester City sell this summer in order to refresh the squad and make way for new arrivals this transfer window?
The transfer window is open now, so owners are getting out their chequebooks, managers are demanding everyone, and Man City have already signed 2 players. Leicester City are reportedly interested in a number of players to improve their squad for the upcoming Europa League and Premier League campaign.
But what about the business going the other way? Who should the Foxes sell in order to raise funds, clear out bad eggs, or just move people on?
Now before you turn off your phone in disgust at the first name, let me explain. Schmeichel is 33 years old and isn’t getting any younger, he has made a number mistakes over the past few years (irrespective of the last couple of games this season), and I now think the time has come to replace Kasper with an emerging young keeper.
On the ball, he has dramatically declined. The days where you would revel at his distribution are now gone. With crosses he is flappy and scares everyone when a ball comes anywhere near him. Yes, he is a great shot stopper, but what goalkeeper isn’t?
You know Rodgers wants an assertive keeper, one that can adapt and play football, and the big Dane is losing that touch now.
With the rumours circulating of a move to Manchester United for the Danish number one, you have to ask yourself, is it worth it to keep him on when he is clearly declining, if Leicester can cash in on him, they can then bring in someone young and with clear potential. Nick Pope immediately comes to mind.
People need to move on from the title winning season and start building a new generation Leicester team.
This needs to happen sooner rather than later, otherwise a chance to raise funds for players, training facilities and an extension the the ground would have been lost.
A little less controversial, this choice, but Gray is a fantastic example of what could have been. A player who had pace, skill and flair but no end product. Whether you think he didn’t have the opportunity or had ample opportunities to make his mark in the Leicester team, I think we can all agree that he should be moved on.
With rumours linking top quality wingers to the East Midlands and a desire to maintain a top six challenge, Gray is no longer good enough. You could argue that Harvey Barnes isn’t up to it either, but it is obvious who Brendan Rodgers prefers, he even played Centre Forward Ayoze Perez as a winger instead of Gray.
In seasons before Spurs and Bournemouth have had bids rejected but now an opportunity to raise funds for marquee signings, it is a no brainer.
In 4 full seasons he has scored 10 goals, it simply isn’t good enough for a team who want to challenging the Premier League hierachy. The fact that over half his appearances are from the bench has contributed to this, and being thrown in to the team and then being chucked out because he didn’t score is incredibly damaging, but everyone has had enough of the potential with nothing to show for it. If Leicester can get £20 million, that would considered good business all round.
Leicester City fans have had enough and it would just make every party happy if the winger were to depart.
Islam Slimani
I am a big fan of the Algerian: technically he’s very sound, great in the air, and links up very well with other players. However, having a striker on £50,000 a week plus on loan is suicidal. Slimani hasn’t played for Leicester since the start of 2018 in the FA Cup against Fleetwood Town.
The Algerian’s Leicester career has been so stop-start, playing 35 times and scoring in 8 of those games, but with 3 loan spells you can be fairly sure that his stint at the Foxes isn’t worth the £28 million they paid for him.
Despite an okay return at Monaco (9 goals in 18), the Algerian is easily 3rd in the pecking order with Vardy and Iheanacho ahead of him, its clear to see that he will be playing his football away from the King Power Stadium, but a loan is too damaging.
He needs to be sold to get him off the wage bill, as Rodgers will definitely not play him. Clearing more room for wages will give Leicester City a better bargaining chip when talking to potential signings.
It’s a shame that Slimani didn’t work out, but a lot of fans will be glad to see the back of him.
Notable mentions: Matty James, Rachid Ghezzal, Ben Chilwell, Marc Albrighton, Papy Mendy, Adrien Silva