The Summer Transfer Deadline has officially arrived and Leicester City had an eventful summer. 12 former foxes left to attempt new challenges in their careers. Meanwhile nine new signees joined the club as they will look to blossom from a cub to a fox. It is early on in the season. However, here is how I would rate each transfer that joined Enzo Maresca’s side this summer.
Harry Winks: 8/10
Harry Winks was Leicester’s most expensive signing this summer as he was signed from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of €11.6 million. This was a big signing for the squad for a plethora of reasons. Firstly, Winks brings so much experience with the squad. At the age of 27, he’s played football in the Premier League, Champions League, and Serie A. It is nearly impossible to find with that type of quality in the Championship.
He also plays a vital role in Maresca’s system and tactics. He may not be an exciting player who is going to score 15 goals or get 10 assists. However, he links up the attacking play from the defensive backline to the attackers. He also covers all over the pitch defensively. He is a vital piece of this Maresca puzzle.
Thomas Cannon: 6.5/10
This is going to be a boom or a bust signing. There is no in between on this risk signing and it will say a lot about the recruitment team at the East Midlands team. Thomas Cannon was the second most expensive singing this summer as he joined Leicester on transfer deadline day for a fee of €8.80m.
Cannon is a 20-year-old striker who had a successful loan spell at Preston last season. He is now likely to be the back-up striker to Kelechi Iheanacho for the rest of the season. Replacing strikers the quality of Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka is no easy task. However, Cannon is super young and has shown great quality as such a young age. If Cannon continues to develop and eventually overtakes Iheanacho, this is likely to blossom into a 10/10. Only time will tell if this was a great transfer or a massive mistake.
Conor Coady: 10/10
I truly believe that despite not playing a game for Leicester yet, Conor Coady was the best signing of the summer for the squad. Coady joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a transfer fee of €8.70m. The 30-year-old defender checks off every box for what this Leicester squad needs.
His best trait that helps the squad is the fact he is a leader. Maresca has complimented his leadership on numerous occasions and that is something The Foxes have lacked since Kasper Schmeichel left the squad. He also is a Premier League quality defender who we’ll have in the Championship. In the past he led Wolves to promotion to the top flight of English football so he knows how to get the job finally. He is also brilliant at passing for a defender; something that fits Maresca’s game plan to perfection.
Stephy Mavididi: 9/10
Stephy Mavididi is not only too good for the second tier of English football, he is already adored by the Leicester City faithful. The English winger signed from League 1 side Montpellier for a transfer fee of €7.50m. The 25-year-old once played in the Arsenal and Juventus youth academy. You can see from that experience alone why he is so successful.
He plays a lot like Allan Saint-Maximin which is dangerous for opposing Championship sides. Mavididi is Olympic sprinter fast and defenders can’t keep up with that. He is dangerous in front of goal which is exactly the type of player Leicester needed to replace the great Harvey Barnes.
Mads Hermansen: 8.5/10
This is another signing I loved from the Leicester City board. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen was signed from Danish side Bröndby IF for a transfer fee of €7m. The 23-year-old is the definition of the modern generational goalkeeper. Firstly, he can make outrageous saves; something I can’t wait to see finally happen at Leicester. He’s got a great bounce and can cover a lot of the goal. Secondly, his distribution is fantastic, something that is hard to find in today’s football. He is the exact keeper you’d want in Maresca’s system. He is already great at such a young age. He will develop into a wonderful keeper.
Yunus Akgün: 7/10
I will be totally honest, I’m not too familiar with Yunus Akgün’s game outside his minutes played against Hull City. However, I’ve seen the hype he has on Twitter and I can understand why. He is quick, agile, and good on the ball. He is someone I’m excited to watch grow into the team in the future. Only being 23, he has a lot of room to grow. He is a loan with an obligation to buy. If he continues to perform well, I’d love to see him stay with the team. I love the youngster’s Leicester brought into the squad this summer.
Cesare Casadei: 9/10
These next two players would be 10/10 signings if they were to return to the squad next season. Unfortunately, that will not be happening. Cesare Casadei is a brilliant youngster who is on loan from Chelsea. The Italian tore it up in the U-21 Euros and he’s only built onto his momentum as he joined the squad. He is a central midfielder who can score and pass the ball. The Foxes are simply electric and bound to score whenever he is on the pitch. Chelsea has a gem on their hands as the 20-year-old will only continue to grow as he stays with Leicester on loan.
Callum Doyle: 9.5/10
He is my favorite out of all of the loanees. Callum Doyle is a youngster who joined the squad on loan from Manchester City. He is normally a Centre back however, Maresca has playing him as a left back. This position change has evolved Doyle into a monster. He is so good as passing. His assist to Kasey McAteer against Rotherham was a thing of beauty. It was without a doubt a Premier League quality assist. He also has had no issue marking up Championship defenders. He is amazing yet likely won’t make it into the Manchester City squad. I hope the board can find a way to bring Doyle into the squad permanently if they get promoted.
Issahaku Fatawu 10/10
Leicester has the chance to sign one of the best young wingers in the world for €17m if they make Issakahu’s loan permanent. This would be one of the biggest missed opportunities in the world if they didn’t do so. The 19-year-old has super speed and a fantastic touch. He also already shown the ability to get past defenders like it is nothing. He’s got a great shot and nice ability to get the ball to his teammates. This is a generational prospect that the Foxes can not miss out on.
There is not a doubt in my mind that this was a brilliant transfer window for City. It is strange to me how Leicester had more transfer pull in the Championship compared to the Premier League. However, I will not complain. This team looks rejuvenated with the new manager and transfers that were brought in. I’m beyond excited for the future.