Leicester City continue to scout out potential improvements to the squad ahead of both January and summer transfer windows. Here is the latest target.
The Foxes are hunting. Brendan Rodgers’ side is known to have been scouting out a goalkeeper, a defender, a midfielder, and a right-winger ahead of the winter window. Talk of the goalkeeper has started to die down in recent weeks, with Danny Ward’s form improving.
Of course, this has not stopped the King Power club scouting other positions, or possibly planning on playing signings in less familiar positions. This is the situation with new target Martin Terrier. The French attacker is particularly interesting: here, I shall briefly denote his history and then talk about his fit in the side.
A French connection
Terrier is a 25-year-old playing for Stade Rennes in Ligue 1, a side vying consistently towards the top of their league. The forward is an integral element in that form, playing almost every game. Interestingly, this is one player who has little experience outside of France.
The player’s senior career started with LOSC Lille, before becoming a consistent member of the RC Strasbourg side in 17/18 campaign. For two seasons he stayed with Olympique Lyon. That was an odd time: the first season was a success, with nine Ligue 1 goals, then these figures diminished before switching to his current club.
It is at Rennes Terrier has found his best form, and made the most interest for a myriad of clubs in the Premier League. Plenty of goals and plenty of assists. As of the time of writing, the Frenchman has accumulated 11 goals and four assists across all competitions in the 22/23 campaign: 19 appearances in total.
Therefore, the first major facet to understand about Terrier is this: Leicester will be interested in experienced but not overly old talents who have performed excellently across teams, styles, and positions. The newly coronated French international certainly fits the bill across his career.
A stylistic suit at Leicester City but a positional farce
As is usual with these pieces, I like to see the next points as being around three crucial facets: positionality, stylistic preferences, and added value. Any transfer should be considered and merited on these basic elements.
As per Transfermarkt, it can be seen how the positional aspect of the player might entice the Foxes. Terrier is primarily a left-winger, a position they have essentially no depth for at this time, and he can also performed his duties as a striker, and less still as a right-winger.
To be honest, I personally feel there are other areas of more pressing concern in the squad. At right-wing, Leicester City have effectively no one natural bar Marc Albrighton; this has led to James Maddison, Ayoze Perez, Dennis Praet, and Kelechi Iheanacho being task with starting attacks from the right before coming inside as midfielders or strikers.
Stylistically, Terrier shines. When compared to positionally similar players, FB Ref rates him in the 94th percentile for aerial duels won, 89th for tackle volume, 75th for clearances, and 70th for progressive passing. This is on top of prolific attacking figures. Clearly, he is a workhorse in the final and defensive thirds.
Interestingly, SmarterScout only rate him 25/100 for dribbling and 31 for progressive passing in comparison to Premier League talent. He continues to shine as an aerially aggressive, high-octane attacker.
Stylistically then, Leicester City have a rather critical talent on their list. He would offer a strong, aerial talent who can collect the ball in the final third to take a chance, or comes deep to help the team defend when required. He offers something different to Harvey Barnes, who dribbles a lot more and uses that electric pace more often.
However, despite this added value, there are two objections I would have. Firstly, the record fee which would be required to sign the talent seems unfeasible with the financial situation as it is without losing Youri Tielemans in January, further, spending in excess of £30m for cover seems equally unlikely.
As such, it either appears the Foxes would be playing Terrier as a right-winger – where he has been less effective – or perhaps the talent becomes only a rotational option. Personally, I feel with a dedicated right-winger needed, any decision to prioritise a left-winger who could be playing in a less natural position is simply not smart.
Terrier is certainly talented, and Rodgers will no doubt wish to add depth and strength in the whole squad. I feel this is one for the summer, not for January.