Although only three Foxes’ player – Jamie Vardy, Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen – are out of contract (all three likely to leave), the club’s financial position is probably so bad, with the threat of two penalty deductions next season unless action is taken, that the squad will have to be extensively thinned out. Any big money sales are likely to be concluded in the first iteration of the summer’s transfer window – June 1st to the 10th – the second being between June 16th and September 1st.
To stay
Usually, it is easier to pinpoint players who are likely to leave rather than those who are going to stay. This summer, it is different for Leicester. Indeed, there are few players who we can say are definitely going to be still with the Foxes in the Championship next season. I would say there are nine. The goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczky is likely to be the number one. The others would be James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, Luke Thomas, Oliver Skipp, Bobby De-Cordova-Reid (on the grounds that it is difficult to see anyone else wanting him) Jordan Ayew and (thankfully) Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi.
To leave
Pretty much everyone else in the squad could depart. This applies even to some of the young academy players. Jeremy Monga has been linked with Manchester City (although there are reports he is likely to stay at the King Power Stadium for at least one more season) and Jake Evans with Arsenal. As far as the other players go, there would seem to be two alternative strategies that the club could pursue. One is to raise big money on one or two players. The only two who are likely to fetch sizeable fees are Mads Hermansen and Bilal El Khannouss. Both have been linked with moves away, the former to rejoin Enzo Maresca at Chelsea and the latter to Arsenal with Newcastle and Aston Villa also alleged to be interested.
The alternative strategy is to lose several players for lower fees. There are plenty of candidates. From the defence, Wout Faes has been linked with Lazio, Victor Kristensen with Everton and Caleb Okoli with a return to Italy. Whether Conor Coady, given he is in the last year of his contract, will be moved on remains to be seen. There has been talk, too, of the club buying out Jannik Vestergaard’s contract.
Of the rest, one or more clubs could well be willing to meet Wilfred Ndidi’s release clause of £9 million, and Boubakary Soumare has suitors in Spain. Whether Harry Winks remains is likely to depend upon whether Ruud van Nistelrooy – who the midfielder has fallen out with – remains at the club. Kasey McAteer was the subject of a bid last summer and the club might be tempted to sell if another one comes in. Hopefully (for many Foxes’ fans at least) Patson Daka might end his increasingly difficult spell with Leicester too. The sale of several players for relatively small amounts will raise money, some of which can be reinvested in the squad.
Whatever the outcome, it is likely to be a very busy, and important, summer for the Foxes.