Soyuncu was supposed to leave but has a Leicester future

It’s no secret just how good a player he can be, but it’s also clear that there’s a relationship between he and the manager or between he and his teammates that needs to be rebuilt over time. It will be a shame for all parties if Soyuncu was to depart on a free at the end of his contract; for the player who will feel he’s spurned his chance to build a career at the top level, for the club who will not receive a fee for a proven quality defender, and for the manager who must take some culpability for that scenario transpiring.

Many City fans will remember how they yearned for a back three system of Jonny Evans, Soyuncu and Fofana, with James Justin and Timothy Castagne as wing-backs, and obviously that is now impossible. The arrival of Faes and the lack of wingers at the manager’s disposal will likely see the tactical emphasis shift back to a more conventional back four system with just two central defenders.

This provides another obstacle to Soyuncu regaining a starting berth, as rebuilding any relationship relies on a solid foundation of trust – and perhaps Rodgers might not feel he can trust him with the responsibility that playing a four-back system yields. It remains to be seen whether the former fan favourite will be able to capture the hearts and minds of the Foxes faithful once more, but what’s certain is that it will take a lot longer to build that security and assuredness the second time around.