After weeks of speculation, it seems as if Leicester City have finally secured one of their main transfer targets for the summer. It was revealed on Wednesday that Chelsea’s midfielder, Cesare Casadei, has accepted Leicester’s proposal and is set to join the club on a season-long loan.
Casadei’s name has been linked to the Foxes for a while now and it was widely reported how keen the club, and more specifically Enzo Maresca, was for the move to happen. However, a turn of events led to reports of the midfielder preferring a loan move to Serie A side Genoa. Thankfully, those reports were put to bed by legendary transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano; he took to social media and declared the move a ‘here we go’.
Leicester City have agreed loan deal for Cesare Casadei to join from Chelsea — as revealed in the morning 🔵🦊🇮🇹
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 9, 2023
Deal in place and medical this week, if all goes to plan. #CFC believe Maresca will be crucial to help Casadei develop best way.
Here we go ✨ pic.twitter.com/AviXcYjIDE
Still only 20, the Italian midfielder has quickly earnt a reputation as being one of the hottest prospects in Europe. Signed by Chelsea from Internazionale last summer, he was still yet to make his senior debut when he made his £12.6m move, though he had been a standout for Inter’s youth teams.
Last season, he spent the first half of the campaign playing with the Blues’ youth squad in the Premier League 2 before securing a winter loan move to Reading in the Championship, for whom he made 15 appearances and scored just the one goal.
However, it was in this summer’s FIFA U20s World Cup where Casadei truly began to show his true promise. Starting in all six of Italy’s games, Casadei was a step above anyone else in the tournament as he helped take his country all the way to the Final.
Though Italy would go on to lose that final 1-0 to Uruguay, Casadei had already done enough to earn him both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards as he was named the best player in the World Cup. He finished the campaign with a staggering seven goals and two assists from six games.
From then on, multiple European clubs have tried to strike a deal with Chelsea for a loan deal, but it seems as if Maresca’s project at the King Power has won over the youngster and he will finalise a deal in the coming days.
It’s a reminder for Leicester fans as to how much of a pull Maresca has when it comes to young talent and development, something that will be crucial as the club approaches the final few weeks of the summer transfer window. Due to the raw potential Casadei has in his locker, and the fact that his current contract runs until 2028, don’t expect a buy-option included in the deal. If he excels in the East Midlands, he’ll be hungry to prove himself at the highest level with Chelsea.
Where will Cesare Casadei play for Leicester City?
Straight away, it seems as if Casadei will be a crucial figure in Maresca’s midfield and one of the first names on the team sheet. Typically playing as a central midfielder in the No.8 role, he can also play slightly deeper in defensive midfield as well as further up the pitch, however this isn’t a James Maddison replacement.
With Harry Winks looking a key figure in the centre of the pitch, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall‘s explosive opening day performance against Coventry City cementing his place in the team, the only midfield spot up for grabs is Wilfred Ndidi’s. The Nigerian didn’t have a bad game against the Sky Blues, but he is still adjusting to playing further up the pitch. When he was replaced by Dennis Praet, we saw how much of an improvement a better-suited CM was for that role.
Other than reliable passing and an eye for goal, Casadei’s main attribute will be his creativity. So far, we’ve seen that Leicester lack that true quality ball up the field to create the 1-on-1 chances Maresca wants. With the pace of Stephy Mavididi, Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, and Wanya Marcal-Madivadua up front, a clinical ball through, or, over-the-top of opposition defences will cause real problems.
In a tight and testing season in which injuries will shape the squad, the addition of Casadei could prove fruitful for the promotion-chasing Foxes as he forms part of an eye-wateringly good midfield for the Championship. Rivals beware: City have a new world-beater in their ranks.