Every current Leicester transfer exit rumour rated
Patson Daka
Everton are the latest club to be interested in the Leicester forward, Sean Dyche apparently admiring his pace which would be well-suited to Everton’s counter-attacking game.
Verdict:
It is unclear what role, if any, Daka will play in Leicester’s Championship season. On the one hand, he has failed to live up to his potential since his arrival from Red Bull Salzburg in June 2021 scoring only four goals last season. Many Leicester fans wouldn’t be too unhappy to see him go. It is also difficult to see him adapting to ‘Marescaball’ which relies on the front man coming deep to pick up the ball and feeding runners, particularly from the wing. Vardy played that role, without too much success, in the Coventry game. Kelechi Iheanacho would seem better able to play this way. On the other hand, Iheanacho is probably more likely to leave by the end of the transfer window and this would leave the veteran Vardy as the only other central striker in the squad.
Rating: 5
Wilfred Ndidi
Forest and Celtic have been reported to be interested in signing the Nigerian midfielder who is allegedly not averse to a move. Just last week, the Turkish club Fenerbahce were supposedly prepared to offer around £7m for his services.
Verdict:
Ndidi has been part of Maresca’s first 11 in pre-season and was a starter in the opening day fixture and the League Cup tie. It seems that the new boss wants to keep him. However, Ndidi’s conversion into a box-to-box number eight does not really suit his game, although his performance against Burton suggests he might grow into it. As far as we can tell, he seems to be enjoying the greater freedom offered by Maresca’s formation.
With the likely arrival of Cesare Casadei on loan from Chelsea, however, the Nigerian’s place in the Foxes midfield looks vulnerable. However, even though Ndidi’s form has plummeted in the last 18 months, Leicester are unlikely to sanction a sale for under £10m despite the fact he is entering the last year of his contract. This probably rules out Fenerbahce and Celtic. Ndidi is not reportedly Forest’s top midfield target the club preferring PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare. This one could go to the wire.
Rating: 4
Harry Souttar
It has become clear, and something of a surprise, that Souttar is not Maresca’s first choice centre back. He was an unused substitute against Coventry and didn’t even make the bench for the Burton clash. Inevitably, talk has surfaced about him possibly moving on, Glasgow Rangers, it is said, being interested in a loan move. Interestingly, Souttar’s brother, John, has recently joined the Scottish giants.
Verdict:
Michael Beale, the Ranger’s boss, has dismissed the link with Souttar and Leicester wouldn’t probably be interested in a loan move anyway. However, I suspect other clubs may be keen on the international defender. Leicester may not be willing to sell, however, given that their resources at centre-back have been weakened by the departures of Caglar Soyuncu, Jonny Evans and Daniel Amartey and the possibly long-term injury to Conor Coady.
Rating: 4
Jannik Vestergaard
The burly centre-back apparently expressed an interest in leaving the club some weeks ago and a move is still possible.
Verdict:
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Maresca era has been the renaissance of Vestergaard who, under the Rodgers regime, had been completely ignored. He is only in the starting line-up because of the injury to Coady but if the former Wolves man is going to be out for months rather than weeks, and Leicester let Souttar go too, the club may be reluctant to lose Vestergaard.
Rating: 3