Less than 60 hours remain before the English transfer window closes on the 1st of September, 11pm. Leicester City seem set to have a hectic conclusion to the window with many players rumoured to be joining the ten first team departures. It’s also expected that Leicester will be bringing in a few more new faces to strengthen the squad. This number will depend on the number of outgoings in the coming few days.
Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Kristiansen, Patson Daka and Luke Thomas seem like the players most likely to leave the club. Reputed football journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Nottingham Forest and Bologna have made bids for Ndidi and Kristiansen respectively with both players looking to leave.
Patson Daka is not part of Maresca’s plans and is rumoured to be on the shortlist of multiple clubs such as Bournemouth, Monaco and Burnley. The Zambian striker is likely to command a fee in the region of £15-20m for his services. Homegrown left-back Luke Thomas is also set to leave as he lacks the skills to play the inverted full back role which Maresca uses. Thomas is rumoured to be joining fellow Championship promotion rivals Leeds on a loan deal.
Elsewhere, players such as Boubakary Soumare, Harry Souttar, Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen are all not in Maresca’s plans for the season and it would be better for both parties if they were to leave. There are no concrete links for these players as of now but rumours suggest that Sevilla are interested in taking Soumare on loan while Rangers are said to be admirers of the giant Aussie international.
There are no active speculations for Ward and Iversen which is concerning as amongst the players not in Maresca’s plans, they are required to leave the most. Both Soumare and Souttar can play a role in the team if moves do not materialise for them but with Mats Hermansen and Jakub Stolarczyk the main and backup keepers respectively for Maresca, having Ward and Iversen is illogical. Especially with Alex Smithies rumoured to be the third choice goalkeeper.
Star players Kelechi Iheanacho and Dennis Praet are also rumoured to be the subject of interest from top league clubs. Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both reportedly keen on the Nigerian forward; Praet, as usual, is said to be wanted by Torino.
With departures likely in the next two days, fans can look forward to incoming reinforcements to replace the outgoing players and strengthen the squad. Another winger and an attacking midfielder are said to be the key areas Maresca is looking to strengthen.
However, there could be players in other positions brought in depending on the departures. With Ndidi likely to leave, another box to box midfielder could be targeted while a striker might be brought in if Iheanacho and Daka leave.
There are many players claimed to be on the shortlist of the Foxes. Out of all of them, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, a young Ghanaian winger who plays for Sporting Lisbon, is looking most likely to be joining the Foxes with a medical test coming up as per reports. Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is also said to be high on Leicester’s wish list.
Manchester City’s James McAtee and Queen Park Ranger’s Ilias Chair are said to be the main targets for the attacking midfield position but there are no significant reports on them from journalists as of now. Maresca seems to be utilising his Man City links well with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a young Centre-Back, also rumoured to be wanted by the club.
Elsewhere, there is gossip about possible Foxes interest in forwards Silko Thomas, Mama Balde. and Brian Aguirre but they seem unlikely transfers as of now. With so little time left in the window and much movement expected, Leicester fans should be braced for a frantic finish to the window.