Hopefully, the latest Leicester City manager is becoming acquainted with a club in transition. With any luck, Russell Martin will be able to navigate his way around the vast and opulent Seagrave training facility by now as well!
Even that task will not be straightforward for the man with a monumental undertaking on his plate at LCFC. As recently stated here on this website, the former Swansea City, MK Dons, Southampton and Rangers head coach has a ridiculously thorough list of approximately seven assignments to solve and resolve at King Power Stadium.
First of all, the 40-year-old must work with the recruitment department to ensure profitable sales of any even remotely valuable assets. Furthermore, he faces the necessity of discovering quality, inexpensive players through free transfers and loan arrangements.
Regarding the initial point, some information on the direction Martin may pursue, specifically with respect to personnel, has emerged. Reports suggest that three heavily involved wingers, Stephy Mavididi, Abdul Fatawu and Jeremy Monga, may depart this summer.
Leicester City trio hoping to catch Russell Martin's eye
Such an exodus would leave only one recognised senior wideman ready to demonstrate his skills to Martin, in the form of 22-year-old Silko Thomas; someone regarded well at Leicester. Incidentally, if the Blue Army are not already aware, pre-season training has now commenced.
"All three [Fatawu, Monga, Mavididi] could depart, leaving Thomas among the few wingers for a system that asks wide players to hurt opponents on the ball."OneFootball via LCFC Live
The new gaffer welcomed approximately 13 footballers to practice today (Monday, June 29). A few Foxes remain engaged with World Cup duties, yet others, including several youth stars, are raring to begin impressing their newest boss.
​Meanwhile, a first-team place could definitely open up for highly-rated midfielder Sammy Braybrooke, particularly with Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks now strongly linked with exits. The prospect of Braybrooke receiving his long-awaited opportunity is a narrative gaining traction among the faithful.
"Martin’s style could make League One the ideal next step if [Braybrooke is] trusted to start."
In addition to the aforementioned prospect, a defender appears to perfectly suit the manager's established style of playing from the back. Ben Nelson, who has been connected with moves to both Premier League Manchester United and Serie A Torino with an assumed valuation of around £6 million, is a talent City may ultimately choose to keep. Harry Souttar's potential exit may dictate here.
"His [Nelson's] 82.2% pass completion last term fits the need for an athletic, ball-playing centre-back."
​If the centre back is explicitly pinpointed by Martin as a core component, and provided that other transfer sales prove favourable to the King Power ownership, the prospect of Nelson remaining a Fox is certainly not out of the realm of possibility. The coming weeks will undoubtedly reveal if these young prospects truly become focal points in a fresh Leicester side.
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