How will Leicester lineup without Fofana?

Prior to the injury, I would still have argued the Foxes wouldn’t want to start the season with Wesley Fofana and Çağlar Söyüncü as a partnership. Both are front-foot active defenders, often vacating central areas to pursue the forward in possession. There’s a lot of studies that suggest the perfect composition of defenders is with a “cat and dog”. Essentially, one active defender who’s given the freedom to pressurise the forwards, and a reserved “cat” that sits in his position, dictates the structure of the defensive line and is an assured presence at the back — the profile of Jonny Evans.

With this in mind, I wouldn’t have wanted both the aforementioned “dog-styled” defenders to start and now, Leicester City have the chance to sign a player with a similar profile to Jonny Evans. It’s also worth noting, Brendan Rodgers has highlighted his structural preferences throughout pre-season, not a single use of a three, or five, back formation — therefore leaning towards back fours (most notably 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2). The injury to a major centre-back will only force Rodgers’ hand even more towards a back four.

The player I feel the Foxes might pursue, and somebody who fits the previously highlighted “cat” profile is James Tarkowski.