Leicester City are facing an exodus of talent in the summer window. Here is the news around rumoured interest Ilias Chair and what you should know of him.
The King Power club will need to replace several key talents as important players leave the club in absence of Premier League football. We can expect a lot of money to be spent, so the club should be able to sign capable replacements.
One important player likely to leave is James Maddison. The English attacking midfielder has been the creative spark for some time now since his transfer from Norwich City, to lose him is a massive hit to the club.
Ilias Chair targeted by Leicester City
There will of course be a long list of possible signings. Nevertheless, according to reports, QPR playmaker Chair one of those on the list. The 25-year old is a consistent, decent quality versatile player so should be a good option high up the list.
As per the usual, I will detail position, style, and value as well as providing a personal opinion on this transfer rumour. To premise this, I would say I had heard little of him, but feel confident in the Moroccan’s place on the transfer list.
In terms of position, the midfielder is primarily an attack-focused AM, however has played more versatile in the 22/23 campaign for QPR. Having played AM, RW, LW, and even as a striker. The player is clearly a playmaker from a variety of positions and understood to be critically important.
Chair’s Sofascore heat map places the star EFL Championship talent as a left-sided player, often moving fluidly across the final third or penetrating the backline on the left side where he often cuts inside or makes a swift pass to a running midfielder. I would say Leicester City can expect another ‘Madders’ in that regard, able to play anywhere upfront and impose his quality on the match.
Stylistically, we have already covered that briefly: he is a playmaker. Using FB Ref’s stats which rate a player based upon propensity or quality when judged against all players within the next eight leagues, we can illustrate what Chair brings to the table.
The Moroccan is rated in the 90th percentile of players for both shot-creating actions and expected assists, 83rd for progressive carries and 66th for progressive passing. An extremely clear painting: Chair creates opportunities.
Once again, a stylistic variety. The star is the architect of chances through either holding onto the ball and moving into dangerous positions – pulling in opposition players to create space for others – or swiftly and creatively moving the ball through the field to find attackers in dangerous areas. His passes bypass defenders, his movements take two or three opposition out of the game.
The Foxes could do with such a versatile playmaker as their ideal Maddison replacement. This does not mean another player could end up being a better deal for Leicester City, but there is little to complain about how Chair plays and what he offers the team.
Value wise, Transfermarkt rate the player around £8.6m, which would infer more the lack of reputation for QPR than a lack of quality. I would expect closer to £15m due to his importance to the side, after all most attacking passages go through the midfielder. Anything less would be a bargain.
Personally, I would not be upset with this signing. If the player is on a three-four year deal and can help the Foxes return to the Premier League as soon as possible, then there is no reason not to get the deal done. Furthermore, Chair will be more valuable in the future, so signing now should bring financial benefits down the line.
However, I do also prefer a loan to buy offer for Cole Palmer of Manchester City and the promotion of Will Alves from the Leicester youth. My wish is likely unlikely, so if Ilias Chair is the man, then the King Power club should pounce swiftly.