This summer has brought a new era to Leicester City, and with the transfer window officially opening on Saturday, Enzo Maresca’s rebuild is under way. With eight players already departing the Foxes (and the future of club captain Jonny Evans still unanswered) there is now a large gap to fill on Filbert Way.
Reliable sources indicate that both Harry Winks and Conor Coady are imminent arrivals in the East Midlands and now full focus is on who Maresca’s next arrival will be. Whilst the experience of the two England internationals will be invaluable, the Foxes must also be looking at Championship know-how as they aim to clinch promotion at the first time of asking.
The rumour mill has delivered two names in particular that should get Leicester fans’ attention: Ryan Giles and Joel Piroe. Here are three things that Foxes of Leicester think you need to know about the potential recruits.
A potentially perfect signing
Still only 23, Ryan Giles can be classed as a seasoned Championship campaigner. A product of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ youth academy, Giles has spent the last three years on loan at multiple Championship clubs, amassing 119 appearances in England’s second division.
A left-back by trade, Giles has played across the left flank in his career and is seen as one of the most promising English players in his position. Previously playing on loan at Coventry City, Rotherham United, Cardiff City, and Blackburn Rovers, it was Middlesbrough who secured his services for the 2022/23 season.
‘Boro’s’ ascendency under manager Michael Carrick has been frequently documented this season, as the Manchester United legend took them from the bottom of the Championship to the playoff spots. Making 45 appearances, Giles played a crucial part of that rise, assisting a staggering 11 goals from his position.
His talent is clear and is reflected on his £9million price valuation. Now at a cross-roads in his career, Giles faces a choice whether to try and force his way into Wolves’ squad for the Premier League, or if he pursues a move elsewhere. One thing is for sure, he won’t want another loan.
Middlesbrough will be keen of signing him up permanently, but Leicester’s interest isn’t good news for the club; the spending power and pull the Foxes have may be enough to pip any rivals to Giles’ signature.
Discussing the prospect of a move to the King Power, James Reeves, a writer for FootballLeagueWorld, labelled the move ‘an outstanding addition for Leicester’ as they aim to build up a ferocious side for the Championship. Reeves continued, stating that ‘there is no doubt that Giles was one of the best left-backs in the division last season and if a deal can be secured, it is a no-brainer for the Foxes.’
Goals galore
On the other end of the pitch, Joel Piroe has announced himself as a prolific scorer in the second division. Having signed for Swansea City in a bargain £1m deal in 2021 from PSV Eindhoven, Piroe took to the league like a duck to water. Since his Swans debut, the Dutchman has netted 41 goals in only 88 Championship appearances.
This season, he scored nearly a third of Swansea’s goals, netting 19 in 43 games as well as providing 2 assists. Able to play on either wing, Piroe predominantly plays through the middle of the pitch.
If his name sounds familiar to Foxes fans, it’s because he was strongly linked with a move to the King Power last summer, however the Swans were demanding £20m for his services which ultimately worked in putting Leicester off.
Whilst Swansea were able to price out clubs last year, the story is very different this summer. With his contract expiring in 2024, and with WalesOnline reporting that Piroe is unwilling to extend his stay in Wales, it looks as if the Swans will be forced into selling their best asset for a cut-price fee.
Currently valued around £10m there are multiple clubs sniffing around for a deal. Everton and Nottingham Forrest offer the pull of the Premier League, meanwhile former Swansea boss Russell Martin is keen on reuniting with the forward at Southampton. Again, this is where the spending power of Leicester could help them in a move, but Swansea will be keen to get the most money they can out of any deal.
If the Foxes can secure a move for the 23-year-old, they would be adding a serious number of goals to their squad, something they desperately missed from their strikers last season. The deal makes perfect sense and might be the missing ingredient to secure promotion.
What it means for the Leicester City squad
Whilst both Giles and Piroe would be outstanding additions to the squad, it does pose a question as to why they will be needed. Whilst Leicester have already lost eight first-team players, none of those are full-backs or strikers.
Timothy Castagne has had strong rumours of a departure to Juventus, but LCFC are still stacked in the left-back department. James Justin, Victor Kristensen (who has pledged his intention to stay at the Foxes) and Luke Thomas are still on the books and adding a fourth player would make little sense. If Giles were to be signed, at least one of those three should be expected to depart.
As for the strikers, Leicester already have a strong group in Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho, though none produced double figures in goals last season. Jamie Vardy’s wages are a problem for the Foxes – even if they are halved – so he may be forced to move, meanwhile both Daka and Iheanacho have been linked to Roma.
If Piroe were to arrive, it would spell the end for at least one of those strikers, though the Foxes may be open to cashing in on more than one of their attackers this summer as they aim to transform the squad.
In terms of numbers, Giles and Piroe would be smart replacements for the creativity of both James Maddison and Harvey Barnes. Whilst Maddison has already left for £40m, Barnes’ future is unclear but most aren’t expecting him to stick around for the Championship.
Collectively, Barnes and Maddison (the club’s top scorers in all competitions) produced 27 goals and 12 assists last season. Whilst it will be hard to replace those numbers, it certainly seems as if Giles and Piroe would go a long way in filling the gap in the squad.