Leicester City’s summer shopping list could get a whole lot bigger after reports emerged of a Premier League club eyeing two of their strikers. Having survived at the behest of Leicester on the final day of the season, Everton are now eyeing two of the Foxes attackers in order to secure their own survival in the top division.
The Toffee’s have recently endured a horror-show up front: Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been plagued with injuries for the last three years, only managing two goals in the Premier League during 2022-23, alongside missing 14 games. His backup, Neal Maupay only managed to score one goal in all competitions.
Scoring the second-lowest goals in the Premier League last season, only Wolverhampton Wonderers managed less than Everton’s 34. The Merseyside team ended a dreadful campaign averaging less than a goal-a-game. Winger Dwight McNeil was the team’s top scorer with nine in all competitions, whilst defensive-midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure was their second-highest scorer with five goals.
With the Toffees already cashing in on young striker Ellis Simms – he departed for £8m when he joined Coventry City – and open to the departure of both Calvert-Lewin and Maupay, it is no surprise to see them target two of Leicester’s attackers: Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy.
Iheanacho’s name has already been linked with Nottingham Forrest and will no doubt be monitored by fellow Premier League sides this summer. A rare bright spark in a poor Foxes season, the Nigerian ended up with eight goals and five assists and was deeply missed in his injury absence during the final few games.
Now 26, the striker has had a roller-coaster of a career. Graduating from Manchester City’s academy, Iheanacho made 64 appearances for the serial league-winners, scoring 21 goals. An exciting prospect, his signing was seen as a major addition to the squad when he moved to the King Power for £25m in 2017.
A lacklustre debut season followed and he was even touted for an exit in 2020, when he suddenly entered the greatest purple-patch of his career in 2021. He scored 19 goals in all competitions and made seven assists as he developed a deadly partnership with Jamie Vardy. His run coincided with Leicester’s historic FA Cup win, with Iheanacho scoring four goals in six appearances in the competition, including the goal to send them to the final.
Since then, Iheanacho has become a fan favourite and his presence is frequently demanded whenever he starts a game on the bench. In his 206 appearances for City, he’s scored 55 goals and created another 33.
If Everton want Iheanacho, they can get a top attacker for a reduced fee. FootballInsider, who first spoke of the Toffees’ interest, say that Leicester currently value the 26-year-old ‘between the £10-15million price range’. The Foxes would have loved to be able to demand more, but Iheanacho is entering the final 12 months of his deal and it looks unlikely that he will extend.
Historically, we’ve seen Iheanacho operating much better as supporting striker – playing the CF role behind, or alongside, an out-and-out No.9. With Everton potentially moving 3 strikers on this season, it may explain their interest in also acquiring Jamie Vardy.
A Foxes legend, Vardy has been with the club for 11 years since his £1m move from Fleetwood Town in 2012. Since his arrival in the East Midlands, the striker has won the Championship, the Premier League, an FA Cup, the Community Shield, and has played in a European semi-final.
In 427 LCFC games, he’s scored 170 goals and added another 68 assists, including scoring 136 in the Premier League, making him the 15th highest scorer in the competition’s history. His outstanding form, including earning himself the PL golden boot in the 2019-20 season, saw him make 26 appearances for England, scoring seven goals.
Whilst Jamie Vardy has been imperious ever since his move, he is now 36 and saw a rapid decline last season. Like Iheanacho, he is in the final year of his contract at Leicester and he may well want to extend his Premier League scoring record before he retires.
That, partnered by his monumental wage in Leicester – rumoured to be between £140K-£160K-a-week – may be why the Foxes could be open to selling their veteran striker. First reported by website FootballTransfers, apparently Vardy ‘has been told he can leave Leicester’ and has been aware of the Toffees’ interest in him for a while. The Foxes would be looking for a small fee for the striker, but it would be significantly less than the fee reported for Iheanacho.
As ever, do take these rumours with a pinch of salt. We know that Enzo Maresca wants Vardy to spearhead his attack as he aims to clinch promotion to the Premier League at the first time of trying. Part of FootballTransfers‘ article also claims Vardy knew of Everton’s interest in him before the end of the season and thus he chose not to take the penalty against them in the 2-2 draw in May, with James Maddison taking – and missing – the spot-kick instead.
Needless to say, this report is farcically untrue and very unlike Jamie Vardy who will have been devastated that his club are back in the Championship after so many successful years. That being said, it is feasible that either Iheanacho or Vardy end up at Everton. Both are far too good for the Championship and could be very smart signings for a low cost. It’s certainly a developing story worth keeping an eye on.