Leicester City have been linked with over 35 players since the Premier League concluded two weeks ago, but are still yet to secure any.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed after the Manchester United defeat he wanted to improve “the attacking area” of his Leicester City squad, a number of wingers have been targeted to compete with the likes of Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez.
With Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray adding back-up, it looks certain that another wide player will arrive at King Power Stadium before the Premier League season kicks-off on 12 September.
The club has been linked with many wide-men recently, with Said Benrahma, Ismaila Sarr, Wilfred Zaha, David Brooks and Francisco Trincao all having their names associated with the Foxes.
However, this article will look at three wingers who the Foxes recruitment team should be looking at to fill the whole Riyad Mahrez left in 2018.
Ryan Fraser
Ryan Fraser is now a free agent after leaving AFC Bournemouth and is in high demand to secure a move to another Premier League club. With Callum Wilson and Joshua King likely to depart the Cherries, Fraser will be looking to make up for lost time after a move last summer failed to materialise.
After rejecting a short-term extension to his contract to assist in Bournemouth’s relegation fight, Fraser received criticism for his commitment to the club he made 183 league appearances for.
However, despite being poor in the 2019/20 season, Fraser’s numbers beforehand will be a testament to the Scotland-international. Following the failed attempt to leave the club last summer, Fraser’s first four months of the season were below his best.
Between August and December, he created 1.69 chances per 90 minutes and completed 1.13 take on’s per game. In the turn of the year, his chances created increased to 2.2, whilst his take-on’s went up to 1.31 (According to The Athletic).
In the 2018/19 campaign, Fraser scored seven and assisted 14 times in his best season for the club. He averages 31.45 passes per match and crossed the ball 271 times. In context, Marc Albrighton crossed the ball 272 times in the title-winning campaign.
Fraser is a cheap option for Rodgers and with Leeds United, West Brom and Fulham all joining the race to sign him, Leicester could attract the 26-year-old with European football.
Everton
Not the Merseyside-club. Everton Soares (known as Everton) plays for Gremio in Brazil and has been on Premier League club’s radar for a long time. Despite Benfica boss, Jorge Jesus admitting that the Portuguese giants are interested, a move to England could tempt the 24-year-old.
In 2019, Everton appeared 30 times in Serie A for Gremio, scoring 11 goals. He made a name for himself in last summer’s Copa America where he scored his first international goal and scoring in the 3-1 victory over Peru in the final.
Predominantly a left-sided attacker, Everton scored the majority of his goals with his right-foot from cutting in and is capable of firing low shots across the goalkeeper. Everton is fast, mobile, can play across the forward line and full of tricks.
A reason why Leicester City should look at Everton is mainly down to his versatility. With European football coming up, possessing a attacking playmaker who can offer quality from either wing and as a number 10 will have Rodgers licking his lips.
However, if the recruitment team are to tempt Everton to England, they must act fast. According to Globo Espote, Benfica have offered €22m plus add-ons to tempt Everton from his boyhood club.
Gerard Deulofeu
After Watford was relegated to the Championship, interest for Gerard Deulofeu have stepped up in a move that is likely to happen due to the Hornet player’s quality.
The former Barcelona man has been linked with AC Milan and Valencia, but Leicester should really be looking at him. Like Everton, Deulofeu fits the bracket as being versatile with his natural ability to play on both wings and down the middle.
Deulofeu will offer similar to Everton, being fast, skilful, but the Spanish wizard has proved he can produce moments of pure brilliance. Remember his goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Wolves?
Last season, Deulofeu featured in the Hornets opening 28 games before he ruptured his cruciate ligament in the victory over Liverpool. Coincedencde that they couldn’t build on beating the future champions?
He scored 10 goals in 30 appearances in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 season when fully fit. Arguably Watford’s most technical player, the electric winger could be available at a cheaper fee compared to Sarr due to his injury and his inconsistency.
As a graduate from the Barcelona academy, he must be good, right? When Adama Traore moved to Middlesborough, and failed, he was labelled a flop. After two impressing seasons at Wolves, he is now one of the best wingers in the league. Given a chance and an injury-free season, Deulofeu could be the missing spark at King Power Stadium.