Leicester City’s U23 and U18 squads are now brimming with technically gifted talent readying themselves for a senior squad challenge. These are the players.
The King Power side are already known for identifying diamonds in the rough from across Europe, and have been steadily progressing their senior first team into a real force in the Premier League. Now consistent contenders for European football, they have to progress elsewhere.
To improve, the Foxes must now grow substantially their academy operations, also empowering their scouts to sign youthful talent to join together with their development sides. This provides the opportunity to find future stars, rather than having to look for stars at a budget.
Over the past two seasons, this focus on the youth side has transformed the young East Midlands side from relegation favourites to a solid challenge in PL2 and top of the table contenders in the PL U18 Southern division.
So, let us see who Brendan Rodgers could use in the following seasons as the players develop and improve from the star-studded youth sides.
Leicester City’s next defenders
From the U18’s, Leicester City brought in Grimsby Town star Ben Grist. Grist has been a revelation in the youth side. The English defender is one of the biggest reasons the U18’s are challenging at the top of the table.
Give this youngster a couple years, and he will be ready to go out on loan to get regular first team football. With the right development, Grist can become a composed leader at the back – a role he is relishing at the moment – and could be the very long-term replacement to Jonny Evans we need.
The U23’s have even more options from which to pick. I will settle with four defenders. The first is of course Vontae Daley-Campbell. The English right-back has already featured for the Foxes and has shown himself to be one of the strongest tacklers in the game.
Along with fellow fullback Shane Flynn, the two have become regular starters for the 8th place side in PL2. Rodgers will be pushed to either send these two on loan next season for regular football, or make use of them occasionally in the senior side.
At centre-back, Leicester has the impressive Ben Nelson and newly signed Bayli Spencer-Adams. The English defender Nelson has come all the way through the academy and is one of the names registered for the Europa League; he is once more another composed and tall defender who can take on the Evans role.
The Guyanese defender Spencer-Adams is much more progressive than Nelson, and spend quite some time with Watford. While at Watford, the youngster did play twice in the FA Cup. His development is much further along than Nelson, so expect to see him in the senior squad within two years.
A promising midfield
From the U18’s, Rodgers will be encouraged by three players who should quickly progress up the development ladder. Those three are Will Alves, Zach Booth, and new signing Christopher Popov.
Popov has already scored twice for the Foxes this season, which is good for a new signing. Technically gifted and already mature in his on-pitch positioning, it would be surprising not to see a swift loan move for the attacking midfielder.
Alves and Booth have not scored or assisted this season, and though that may seem a negative on them, they remain hard-working players. Both are progressive beasts who get the ball forward, and Alves has the added benefit of being creative in his pass. I would also expect to see these two feature in the U23 side in a season or two before being loaned out.
The U23’s is where the real stars of the dev squad are located in midfield. I will note three players once again: Tawanda Maswanhise, Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, and DM Sammy Braybrooke.
There should be very little in controversy here. For the King Power side, both Maswanhise and Marcal-Madivadua have been involved in senior team training ahead of domestic cup ties, and have been integral to the U23s.
The Zimbabwean international has scored four times already this season, where the Portuguese midfielder has scored twice and joined up with the Portuguese national side for his tremendous form.
Maswanhise is the future creative core of Leicester City. Rodgers should take note and make sure to develop this bright spark as well as he can. Meanwhile, the Portuguese midfielder is progressive and dictator of tempo; he plays that Youri Tielemans role. The player must be sent on loan soon.
It is also worth noting that Maswanhise has developed into a highly versatile player, performing his creative role on the left of midfield, in a left-wing position, in attacking midfield, and as a right-winger. His best position might just be all over the pitch.
Braybrooke is a youth England international already, and has performed well as a high-octane defensive midfielder. Our Northern Irish gaffer must keep a watchful eye on Braybrooke, as Leicester should look to incorporate his energy and passion into the senior side in the future.
Forwards for the future
For forwards, the young Foxes have Kian and Terell Pennant coming through the youth ranks together. In addition, Jake Wakeling has become a consistent threat for the U23s. A good shout could also be the ever-versatile Callum Wright.
Kian Pennant has grown into a striker/forward who roams around the final third to create link-ups with other players, this is one of the reasons Popov has also performed well for the U18s. The academy product has four goals and three assists in the division.
Terell Pennant has been less lucky. Stuck slightly behind in the pecking order, this player has shown himself to be a danger whenever on the pitch. As a winger, he can latch onto through balls and take-on his man to break defensive lines. He is explosive though not yet productive.
Wakeling is just sensational. The English striker plays the Jamie Vardy role well enough. From rushing forward to drifting out wide, Wakeling excels at collecting the ball and running it forward. This allows the player to either take a shot himself or pass it to oncoming support.
The one thing many of these players – especially Wakeling – could do with is better positional and game awareness. During a game, Wakeling may not remain in his designated position, which makes any long ball over the top less effective as the striker must work harder to get onto a ball sent more centrally.
All of these star talents from the U23s and U18s could do with more gametime at a higher level and continued development into suitable roles. When these players are given their time in the sun, expect big things of them.