Brendan Rodgers attempts to justify last season’s disastrous transfer business
By Will Kennedy
Cover players for Leicester City
Panic or cover, Vestergaard’s arrival stemmed from Fofana’s horror injury in pre-season, as well as filling in for Jonny Evans in his injury absence. It cost £15m to lure him away from Southampton, but the Danish international was a major misstep for the Foxes. His lack of pace left him overly exposed in both the league and Europe, and his work rate was found lacking.
Bertrand’s arrival was equally influenced by James Justin’s ACL injury, and the departure of club veteran Christian Fuchs. Only wanting to offer him a one-year deal to cover Justin’s absence, Bertrand held out for a longer contract, eventually being given his wish of two years. That move has backfired, with Bertrand performing woefully, yet still he is stuck on the Foxes’ books this season with no suggestion he’s in the manager’s plans.
Sure, those two were cover players, but Boubakary Soumare and Patson Daka are far from that. Soumare was brought in for roughly £20m after the Frenchman had enjoyed an excellent title-winning season in France for Lille. Given a five-year-deal, he was set to be the eventual successor for Tielemans.
The France Under-21 representative looked to be exceptional business, but, as Rodgers said in the conference, they brought him in to be a hybrid between Ndidi and Tielemans, defending well but also carrying the ball forward. There are players who can do that brilliantly – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – but Soumare just isn’t that player.