Transfer rumours proliferate, particularly at this time of the year. Some are undoubtedly works of fiction – witness the regular, but entirely unfounded, speculation linking Youri Tielemans with Arsenal. Others are based on authoritative sources. Distinguishing the wheat from the chaff is a difficult task. Here we offer a considered verdict on the most recent rumours linking Leicester City players with moves away together with a rating (out of 10) on the chances of a player leaving the King Power outfit in this transfer window.
Extremely likely Leicester City exits
Timothy Castagne
The Belgium international has been the Fox most strongly linked with a move away. Juventus was mentioned as one possible destination although Fulham seems more likely. It is reported that Marco Silva, the Fulham boss, regards Castagne as a priority signing.
Verdict:
It may well be significant that Kasey McAteer was chosen ahead of Castagne for the start of the Championship season, and he didn’t even make the weakened team for the Burton clash. Castagne is, I would say, certain to leave before the end of August.
Rating: 10
Daniel Iversen
The Leicester keeper has been linked with a move to Palace as a replacement for the Spaniard Vicente Guaita. Roy Hodgson has indicated that Guaita is disillusioned at Palace having lost his place towards the end of last season to Sam Johnstone. He has even refused to play in pre-season friendlies.
Verdict:
It is clear that, despite claiming the number one jersey from Danny Ward at the end of last season, Iversen does not figure in Enzo Maresca’s plans. He wasn’t even on the bench for Saturday’s opener against Coventry and was an unused substitute against Burton in the League Cup. Brendan Rodgers was reluctant to play the Danish keeper because of doubts about the quality of his distribution and having a keeper who is good with the ball at his feet is even more essential for Maresca’s style of play.
Iversens’s shot-stopping, though, is good enough to attract teams who are not so reliant on playing from the back. A reported £5m price tag might deter some clubs from bidding but that figure is not onerous to Premier League outfits such as Palace. He is extremely unlikely to be still at Leicester on September 1st.
Rating: 9
Danny Ward
No clubs have seemingly come in yet for the welsh stopper but there are still a few weeks to go in the transfer window.
Verdict:
Ward’s reputation took a big hit following his ill-fated promotion to first choice Foxes keeper after Kasper Schmeichel’s departure. He is now essentially fourth choice at Leicester and is extremely likely to want a move away. As an international, he is an attractive proposition for a lower-league club.
Rating: 8
Dennis Praet
A move away for the Belgium international has been on the cards for some time now as he has been nothing more than a bit-part player at the King Power. Torino, for whom he played on loan in 2021-22, have been linked with him again reportedly offering around £3m for his services. Leicester reportedly want around double that.
Verdict:
It is, perhaps, surprising that Maresca has utilised Praet as extensively as he has so far, the Belgium wide man putting in a quality cross to create the first goal against Coventry. However, it is unlikely, with future signings on the cards, that he will play much of a role this season and a move away is very likely.
Rating: 8
Possible Foxes exits
Kelechi Iheanacho
After Barnes and Maddison, Iheanacho is probably the most marketable asset in the Leicester squad relegated from the Premier League. Interest from Forest and Everton has reportedly occurred, although the latter now seem more interested in Patson Daka.
Verdict:
The King Power outfit could get a sizeable fee for Iheanacho even though he is in the last year of his contract and, given he is a high wage earner too, getting him off the books is probably something that Leicester will not be averse to doing, particularly as Vardy got the nod over the Nigerian for the opening match. A lot will depend on the club finding an adequate replacement.
Rating: 7
Boubakary Soumare
The 2021 signing from Lille doesn’t appear to be part of Maresca’s plans at all. It is something of a surprise that he hasn’t figured in one of the number eight roles but the Leicester boss prefers Wilfred Ndidi in that position.
Verdict:
If Ndidi stays then there is a very good chance that Soumare will move on, possibly back to France.
Rating: 7
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
Highly unlikely exits
Victor Kristiansen
Interest from Serie A side Lazio in the young Danish left back who signed for Leicester in January from FC Copenhagen has been reported.
Verdict:
Kristiansen has committed himself to the Foxes for the Championship season. This doesn’t mean, of course, that he won’t leave. Leicester are blessed with full backs with Callum Doyle, Luke Thomas, Timothy Castagne, Ricardo Pereira and James Justin able to play on the left and all probably above the Dane in the pecking order. With Castagne likely to leave, it is unlikely that Kristiansen will be sold although a loan deal is a possibility.
Rating: 2
Wout Faes
There were rumours that the Belgium defender was unhappy with the prospect of playing in the Championship. Galatasaray are the latest club to allegedly be interested in signing him.
Verdict:
With a place in Maresca’s starting line-up, Faes is said to be one of the players who has been converted by the Leicester manager’s approach and now wants to stay. In any case, with so many uncertainties surrounding other Leicester centre backs, it is unlikely that Leicester, protected by the player’s long contract, would sanction a sale.
Rating: 2
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Liverpool, as well as Chelsea, have been linked with the Leicester born midfielder in the past week
Verdict:
Dewsbury-Hall’s brace in the opening fixture demonstrated his importance to the Foxes and the club would be extremely reluctant to sell. The fact that he is contracted until 2027 means that only a ‘silly money’ offer from the Anfield or Stamford Bridge outfits would persuade Leicester to sell. That eventuality is extremely unlikely.
Rating: 1
Jamie Vardy
Earlier in the transfer window the Leicester City striker was supposedly wanted by Everton and he turned down an offer from a Saudi club.
Verdict:
Given the Leicester legend’s huge salary, and his age, the Foxes would be duty bound to listen to any offers. However, the same factors militate against any bids being made. Vardy’s loyalty to the club, too, means he would certainly not push for a move.
Rating: 0