Leicester City will look to improve their performances in 22/23. In that light, we predict who will score and assist the most, as well as our MVP.
Without much transfer business, it should be fairly simple to predict which players will achieve the highest tally of goals, assists, and of course who will be the player of the season. However, the gap between players should fall off in 22/23, so it might be closer than expected.
As such, for each category, we shall list three players with the best chance of getting gold, and a transfer who could come in and steal the show.
Leicester City’s hopeful top goalscorer
There are four players I think of when considering their ability to finish: Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, Harvey Barnes, and James Maddison. These players are individually brilliant, though not all can succeed at the same time: this is true of Vardy and Daka.
In the 21/22 season, across all competitions, the top five went Maddison, Vardy, Daka, Barnes, and Kelechi Iheanacho. It is safe to assume not much will change about this. The 20/21 season saw it consist of ‘Nacho’, ‘Vards’, Barnes, ‘Madders’, and Youri Tielemans.
This will be a tough race to call. A lot will depend on whether the English striker will retain his usual constant first team place, or if Daka/Nacho will get more opportunities. Additionally, there is less game time for other players to get goals.
I suspect Brendan Rodgers will use Vardy less to protect him. Daka should get the bulk of opportunities. As such, I expect Daka, Vardy, and Maddison to form the top three. Barnes and Iheanacho should be close behind.
Should Leicester’s transfer links come to fruition, then either Noni Madueke or the ever-further away Charles de Ketelaere deal should eventually happen when space is made. I believe the English winger could be revolutionary if given an opportunity for the East Midlands club. Though I doubt he will be top three, top five would be within reach.
Top assists
Depending on whether or not we lose a couple players, there are five players who could possibly be in the top three. The usual suspects are the English left-winger, English attacking-midfielder, Nigerian forward, Belgian midfielder, and strong right-back Ricardo Pereira.
If any of these have the game time they require, they will push each other very closely for top assists. In the 21/22 season, the top five consisted of Barnes, Maddison, Iheanacho, Tielemans, and Ademola Lookman.
In the 20/21 season, even Marc Albrighton was in the mix. Of course, with the return of ‘Ade’ not confirmed, Albrighton likely out of the side for the most part, and Tielemans a question mark, the others seem nailed on.
Rodgers’ team will likely see the Nigerian striker play less than previous seasons, though a front two of Daka-Nacho could be intriguing indeed. If the Belgian ‘Starman’ is staying, then the top three might compose Madders, Harvey Barnes, and Youri Tielemans; if Nacho has gametime, he should be close behind.
One spanner in the works could be either the sale of Tielemans or an attacking-midfielder being brought in. For now, Orkun Kökçü of Feyenoord has emerged as recent speculation. If the Turk finds his way into the Foxes side, then he should push the top right to the very end.
Leicester’s MVP
Player of the season is a hard one to predict, yet I think there are four potential candidates dependent upon their form in the coming critical fixtures. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Wesley Fofana, ‘JM10’, and Ricardo Pereira are my top picks.
Two defenders and two midfielders. All four have an immense amount of quality, flare, and creativity. Each displays star qualities within their class of player, as well as offering something no one else in the team does.
As such, I feel that – transfers aside – ‘KDH’, Madders, and ‘Little Wes’ will be our top three. If the French defender finds that form he showed before his leg-breaking injury, he will crush other teams and be the engine at the back for the Foxes.
Leicester can also find optimism for the Portuguese right-back. We all know what Pereira is capable of. If the defender can remain fit, and play regularly, he will be a defensive juggernaut of experience, and an attacking threat not dissimilar to a Reece James or Trent Alexander-Arnold in play style. ‘Ricky P’ could really challenge if he gets back to best.
However, this top three could be challenged a new centre-back is brought in, and who offers the King Power side another version of Fofana. Our links are far too myriad to choose from, though if Caglar Soyuncu departs, we will definitely be signing another high class defender to partner with the Frenchman.
What are your thoughts on our picks, did we get them right or are we forgetting someone? Let Foxes of Leicester know on our social media channels.