Leicester must keep these 3 players while transfer window open

Leicester City have seen eleven first team players leave the squad so far and are expected to have a few more depart the club before the transfer window closes on the 1st of September. The likely departures are players who don’t fit into Enzo Maresca’s plans but key players are also being targeted and it is imperative that Leicester keep a hold of the three players listed below.

Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho

The talent and skills Iheanacho possesses were always there for the Foxes fans to see. The Nigeria international never seemed to be given a consistent run of starts under Brendan Rodgers but he seems to be the undisputed striker for this season under Maresca.

With Leicester one of the top teams in the league, opposition teams tend to sit deep in their half, leaving very little space to run in behind their defenders. Coupled with the fact that the formation does not have a no.10, an out and out striker like Vardy is left isolated at the front of the formation. This is where Iheanacho’s build up play proves vital as he’s capable of dropping back into the midfield and crafting chances for him or for others.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace are rumored to be interested in signing the striker and it will be a huge loss for the Foxes if he were to leave. There will be very little time to sort out his replacement and there don’t seem to be any players in Iheanacho’s profile who will be available for around £15-20m. Joel Pireo was a player who many thought could play in this role but he has joined fellow Championship club Leeds United.

Another factor to consider is the fact that Iheanacho’s contract runs out in under a year. However, according to reports it seems like he is happy to sign a new deal at the club and stay for the near future. If that is the case, the Nigerians presence would be vital in Leicester’s bid for a swift return to the English Premier League.

Dennis Praet

Praet has always shown that he can produce moments of brilliance in his limited opportunities in the first team. With Wilfred Ndidi likely to join Nottingham Forest, Praet’s involvement in the squad will be even more important.

While Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Cesare Casadei are likely to start as the two no.8’s, Praet will provide good competition to the two and will be effective from the bench. With his quality, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start ahead of the young midfielders.

While his contract also expires next year, Maresca might be able to persuade him to sign a new deal given he’s a part of the project. While he may not be a guaranteed starter, the team will definitely be better with him involved.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

KDH is unlikely to leave the club but there are reports claiming that teams like Liverpool and Chelsea are looking at him as an option to bolster their midfield. While these links are quite far fetched to be honest, the English midfielder is capable of being a starter in a mid table Premier League club.

His work-rate and movement with the ball are important to the way the team functions so losing him so late in the window will be a big blow. Under Maresca, KDH will only improve and he will be a vital player for the Foxes in the Premier League next season if immediate promotion is achieved. His leadership qualities also cannot be undervalued. Thankfully, there are no concrete links to any other teams so expect the fan favorite to be at the club past deadline day.