3 Things to know about Leicester transfer target Jonathan Lewis

Leicester City are facing an exodus of talent and outgoings. The Foxes are targeting many positions; this is what you need to know about Jonathan Lewis.

Enzo Maresca will be demanding replacements for any key player who leaves the Foxes during this summer window. Barnes will likely be leaving along with James Maddison. As such, if the Italian head coach would like to play with an aggressive, dominating, 4-3-3 formation LCFC will need to sign a left-winger and hopefully a right winger.

Reports suggest that the King Power club are interested in replacing explosive left-winger Harvey Barnes with US International Lewis. The Colorado Rapids player offers and interesting prospect for the Foxes.

Three things Leicester City should know of Jonathan Lewis

As is the usual with these pieces, I like to detail the positioning, style, and value that can be attributed towards the proposed signing. The Foxes will see that Lewis – though not as exciting as prior years – should be a priority target should the English winger depart the King Power side.

As per Transfermarkt, we see that the American forward is primarily a left winger who has also performed duties on the right, as a striker, and as an attacking midfielder. However, all the player’s best work as a productive and pacy talent has been done on the left of a front three.

Though this appears fairly versatile – which is certainly a feature Maresca could utilise well with any injury issues which we could face in the EFL Championship – there is more to the picture. Firstly, if we look into how many combined goals and assists Lewis achieved across his whole career per position, we understand the player only ever scores goals from the left wing with a strong right foot and as a striker. Leicester should definitely not sign him on the basis of versatility.

Nevertheless, stylistically the player offers Maresca a progressive winger who can also create goal scoring opportunities for the side. The US left-sided forward is within the 83rd percentile for non-penalty xG in his position, as well as 73rd for progressive carrying of the ball, and 65th for progressive passes received. This means the talent can collect the ball from deep and progress it forward using his physical attribute: speed.

Value-wise, the player is 26-years-old and worth around £1m, although the talent would be available for less due to only having 18 months on his contract. Lewis is a cheap, explosive left winger with plenty of experience. The Italian coach would do well to bring the American into the Leicester fold – only if he sells Barnes.