Leicester’s pursuit of transfer target Chris Smalling explained

Leicester City’s pursuit of transfer target Chris Smalling is discussed by Foxes of Leicester. Are the east Midlanders looking for a longterm Jonny Evans replacement via another Manchester United old boy?

Ordinarily a link such as Smalling to Leicester would be met with derision, particularly by people like myself. However, since reviving his career at Roma, as our affiliates at 90min accurately say, he does have interest coming from the Premier League. In addition, the centreback is now 33-years-old so a move somewhere slightly less high profile like King Power Stadium is believable.

With respect to Leicester, there are reports of them eyeing up the ex-Man United defender. LCFC club captain Jonny Evans is now 35, out of contract soon and injured a lot. Could Smalling be the new calming presence at the back? The latter’s deal also expires at the end of the season.

Victor Kristiansen is a smart guy and a promising player – Leicester City may have themselves another gem

Prior to the arrival of Kristiansen in January, Luke Thomas was under immense pressure at leftback. I wouldn’t say out of his depth, quite, yet many opponents the east Midlands team faced were succeeding down the right-hand side. Furthermore, the Leicester City Academy graduate was not really adding anything on attack. Even overlaps with the often fragile Harvey Barnes evaporated.

The Dane was a breath of fresh air for the Foxes, sorry for the cliche. And I mean no disrespect to Thomas in this article – it’s business, not personal. Obviously this is merely my opinion, just like with the Englishman, who might perhaps eventually hold down a starting role at one EPL club or another.

But ‘VK’ could well be special. I stick by this assertion after seeing him in competitive action a few times now. As this piece by The Athletic states, Kristiansen is wise and confident beyond his years on the pitch: he was instantly arranging Papy Mendy’s and Harvey Barnes’ respective positions. And the young man from Denmark was correct, most importantly.

Kristiansen is not your average footballer, especially at his youthful age: he studies political science, architecture and has culinary skills. He rode a bike to and from training despite ‘breaking through’ at FC Copenhagen. Brendan Rodgers describes his player as a ‘bright lad’ and the evidence is there. Well done, LCFC recruitment!