Two star Leicester City players have been named amongst the FIFA Premier League Team of the Season. Let’s see who they are and why they are there!
Each season, EA Sports announce a 15 strong ultimate squad for the Premier League, representing those players who have contributed most to their teams performances, and the league overall.
As reported by Leicester Mercury, this season, Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester are one of the fortunate clubs to get two players into the group, with Manchester United getting three and Manchester City – the soon to be champions – getting five players in there.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy
The legendary striker, the journeyman who took the greatest journey of any player in Premier League history, and one of the remaining winners of the title, has joined the likes of Harry Kane in the FIFA21 TOTS.
It seems the 34-year-old still will not stop being simply fantastic just yet. From man of the match performances, to becoming a creative playmaker, Jamie Vardy has it all in his locker now. His experience affords him the luxury of not running around like a madman anymore. He uses his pace at more opportune times now.
Courtesy of SofaScore, the Foxes’ striker has appeared 29 times in the league, popping up with 13 goals and eight assists. Despite not scoring as prolifically during the second half of the season, these stats are still great.
What is peculiar is that he has missed at least 17 big chances – such as those where the normal Vardy would bury the chance first time. Nevertheless, the stellar recent performances of Kelechi Iheanacho have not afforded him the right to go ahead of Vardy for this TOTS.
I will be honest, I would have had Iheanacho in there over Vardy, but Vardy remains integral to how we play and perform in a match, regardless of his goal-scoring form.
Leicester City favourite Wesley Fofana
Leicester City must be licking their lips with anticipation for this young yet fantastic defender. Wesley Fofana is the signing of the season in my books, and has made more contribution to the King Power defensively than any other player. He has been immense.
That immensity in defence, that energy in the interception, the strength in the tackle, and the marauding forward have not gone unnoticed. Fofana is the second Leicester player in the TOTS, and deservedly so.
The 20-year-old may occasionally make mistakes by committing to a challenge when he should have stayed goal side of a player, but he has still made 3.7 clearances, 1.9 tackles per game, and 2.3 interceptions per game. These numbers are insane.
Brendan Rodgers’ next signings
Leicester City continue to be linked with new signings which could compete with these two stars, or even go into the next team of the season should they be signed by the club.
It is also worth noting that the King Power side must look to compliment these players with reliable backups, better partners, or new project-players to replace them. Here are the strongest links thus far.
Defensively, the Foxes will look to prepare for life after Christian Fuchs, Jonny Evans, and possibly even Daniel Amartey. We know Fuchs is leaving at the end of this season, and Evans will be too old come the end of his contract. I may love Amartey, but he is simply not good enough alongside Fofana.
Leicester are linked to Robin Gosens (a left back) and Merih Demiral (a centre-back). On the attack, the King Power look to bring in a project to eventually replace Vardy, and a winger to compliment the pace and goal-scoring intent of the veteran striker. Tammy Abraham and Odsonne Edouard are linked, as well as Francisco Trincao or Thorgan Hazard. Southern England side Southampton are Leicester’s next hosts, as LCFC continue the quest for European football in 2021/22.