Leicester City are facing a decimation of their Premier League squad in the summer. In midfield, it could be a dire situation to try and remedy. Here’s why.
The King Power side will be facing an exodus and start of their rebuild – finally – in the coming window. The Foxes will be forced into making changes as several fall out of contract, and several others hang on with only a year remaining on their current deals.
As such, multiple positions will need signings, multiple will see departures. The situation could be dire, especially should the Premier League side be relegated from the division. Dean Smith’s side would then need to be very intelligent in their recruitment to avoid a rubbish senior XI.
Which Leicester City midfielders could leave
Too many. Youri Tielemans and Papy Mendy are out of contract. James Maddison, Wilfred Ndidi, and Dennis Praet will have only a year left on their respective deals. This is on top of several defenders also in the same boat. The Foxes will look to sell some to prevent another Tielemans-style situation.
The only two on decent contracts are Boubakary Soumare and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. This does not mean they are unlikely to leave, but I would expect ‘KDH’ at minimum to be staying regardless of whether we are a PL or Championship club. Soumare is a large question mark for me.
However, what I am certain of is this: the Belgian attacking-midfielder has attracted interest from Real Betis so Leicester should sell the player to get a bit of money for the AM before they lose another on a free. This is a difficult and stressful situation to find ourselves in: the Foxes have to sell, they have to let players go. Praet is one of them.
‘Madders” wages – along with Jamie Vardy’s and Jonny Evans’ – are crippling the club, preventing new signings and getting in the way of new contracts for others. That to me is an important starting point: save some money but offer some of the one year and two year contracts new deals to extend their stay. However, ‘JM10’ is a pretty big player to have to offload. A major player must be signed to take his place.
I would also take the opportunity to do the same with our Nigerian Prince Ndidi. This is a sad one for me: from the best defensive midfielder in Europe to a haphazard risk. He does less than ever before, and it is extremely upsetting to see his decline. As with Maddison, Ndidi could be sold so the King Power club does not lose – another – him on a free.
To be honest, Soumare has high wages and high expectations. If Leicester City were to fall into the Championship the Frenchman would 100% demand to leave, and I think the Foxes would oblige to try and save a little bit of money. A high potential player could leave simply because we are in a lower league.
What could the Foxes do?
So, with so many leaving, how do they repair the situation? The answer is simple: the youth squads and intelligent signings. Equally, it could require an unpopular decision: find a way to convince Hamza Choudhury not to complete his reported optional transfer to Watford.
In the youth setup, the Foxes are strong; currently weakened by several high profile injuries, the U23s starlets could easily make the step into senior football, so long as supported by the right transfer business. Here are a few examples of players to promote.
Sammy Braybrooke has been one of the standout players in the youth side. From captaining the side at times, to be called up for the England youth squad. This ‘Modric look-alike’ small midfielder is a progressively intelligent defensive midfielder capable of using neat passing, technical play, and great positioning to be the rock in the middle. The English international is going to be amongst the next players to be promoted in the coming seasons regardless of transfers or Premier League status.
Wanya Marcal-Madivadua is a progressive minded box-to-box player. Although I feel the player could do with a loan move for a season or two, there is no harm having the player as depth should Leicester fail to sign someone to take the place. Plus, Madivadua has been training with the senior XI for the duration of the season, so should be well placed to make the step up.
Finally, and most obviously, Will Alves. The injured super-star English attacking midfielder is ready for senior football under his belt: on loan or with the King Power club. The preference should be to sign an AM and have Alves as cover, although it might be difficult at this point to see who to target considering our precarious position leaving the future unknown.