Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

Vestergaard’s Leicester revival: was the Jannik panic justified?

By Mike Liberatore

Jannik Vestergaard of Leicester City in training session during the pre-season match against Tottenham Hotspur at Rajamangala Stadium. (Photo by Amphol Thongmueangluang/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Jannik Vestergaard of Leicester City in training session during the pre-season match against Tottenham Hotspur at Rajamangala Stadium. (Photo by Amphol Thongmueangluang/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
twitterredditfacebook
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Leicester City
Leicester City’s Danish defender Jannik Vestergaard stretches during a training session at the club’s training ground in Leicester, central England, on May 4, 2022 on the eve of their UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg football match against Roma. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) /

Fast forward to the current position the Foxes find themselves in. Relegated to the second division, their recognized star players from last season departing, and facing the task of being the team to beat in the Championship this season. And it seems as though a familiar character is making a return to our collective consciousness. Vestergaard was most recently seen in the final warm-up game against Liverpool in Singapore this past Sunday. With his reemergence into the team many fans have been left to wonder: what does this mean for opening day against Coventry City?

In my opinion there are only two reasons why Big Jan is coming back for seconds. Both of these reasons need to be put into the context of Connor Coady being injured for now. I do believe if he was fit this wouldn’t be talked about as much. Reason number one is simple enough: Maresca has seen something he likes in training and wants to try to utilize the player. Reason two: LCFC desperately want his wages off the books and are trying to capitalize on the new style of play from the manager and the lesser quality of opponent in the second division to entice someone to buy him.

Of these, reason number two takes less explanation. Jannik Vestergaard is rumored to be among the top ten earners at the club. I do not believe he is a terrible player. Maybe he wasn’t cut out for what Leicester’s aspirations were. His quality wasn’t equal to the heights the club were reaching for, but with the horrible injury to Wesley Fofana the club scrambled to find cover and settled on the Danish international. The club will play in the Championship and try to play a style that should see them boss many teams in the league. It could be a chance to show this player isn’t finished and recoup something for him as well as get his earnings off the books. All players start with a clean slate when a new manager comes in, and that isn’t any different for Vestergaard.