As the summer transfer window edges closer, details of Leicester City’s squad refresh are starting to become clearer. As Leicester need to sell in order to spend, fans are expecting several high-profile transfers in and out of the club. Youri Tielemans is all but confirmed to be leaving, and now reports are circling over the future of another Belgian international in the East Midlands: Dennis Praet.
Signed from Serie A side Sampdoria in 2019 for £17.2m, Praet was undoubtedly a quality squad player for the Foxes. Some onlookers believe the East Midlands club could or even should have held onto the former Atalanta man; others actually suggest that the Belgian was treated unfairly on account of minimum opportunities on Filbert Way.
Someone whose stats don’t tell the whole story, he has played 60 times in Leicester blue, scoring 3 and assisting 5. A reliable base in midfield, Praet’s passing and vision are his greatest assets – something displayed in his stunning pre-assist against Brentford in the FA Cup.
The issue for Praet is that he isn’t Youri Tielemans and has therefore found it hard to displace the No.8. Injuries to Maddison and Ndidi allowed him into the starting XI during the early parts of the 2020/21 season.
On his return, following an injury of his own kept him out, Praet again struggled to break his way into the side, reduced back to his squad role, eventually finding himself out of favour with Brendan Rodgers. Still frequently selected for Belgium, the 27-year-old, understandably, didn’t want another season on the bench, and sought a loan move away from the King Power.
Torino were to be his destination as he returned to Italian football. In Turin, he found a key role in their squad, playing 18 games so far with 2 goals and 1 assist to his name. Praet was playing some good football until suffering an unfortunate metatarsal injury – requiring surgery – and is now out until late May; effectively ending his season.
Despite this, according to SportWitness, Torino manager Ivan Juric is reportedly desperate to keep Praet for at least another year. The midfielder came with the option to buy; a fee of £15m would be required for them to keep him permanently. Juric however, is unwilling to pay that much.
SportWitness are reporting that, instead of paying the £15m, Juric is wanting to negotiate a cheaper deal or, failing that, will offer to take him on loan again next term.
I don’t know how keen Leicester would be to sell him for a lower fee than already agreed, and I certainly don’t see them loaning him for another season. Reportedly on £77K a week, Praet’s wage is one they could do without in order to sign new players. And, whilst Leicester can’t be expecting to recoup the £17m they paid in 2019, they won’t want to make a sizeable loss on the Belgian. I can’t see the Foxes accepting any deal lower than £13m – his current value as reported by Transfermarkt.
If the Torino move falls through, it doesn’t mean that Praet will stay at Leicester. If the 11th placed Serie A side won’t pay the £15m, another side will. It’s set to be a busy summer for the Belgian and his agent; he will want to be playing consistent football to put himself back into contention for international selection ahead of the World Cup in December.
A permanent transfer away, especially one for £15m, suits all parties. Leicester will only make a small loss on him and will have a gap in their wage budget, Praet can play the minutes he deserves, and whoever signs him will get a quality midfielder for a good fee.