Casper De Norre: Millwall, Defensive-midfielder
Millwall are sometimes considered a bit of a meme team due to its highly physical and sometimes aggressive style of play, while consistently being under intense pressure, struggling to do much with the ball. However, without the ball, the team are a powerful collective unit, and one major element is their 28-year-old screening DM Casper De Norre. This fantastic performance has them in sixth.
The DM can also perform a role at left-back, offering an alternative to Luke Thomas, which is more resolute in defence, although less progressive. As the player does not maraud into the box, his role compared to Harry Winks or Jordan James is completely different. We cannot judge whether he would fit replacing either of the creators in our team. Instead, his tackle rate is elite among midfielders in the division (around 3.0/90 made), and he contests the most aerial duels.
De Norre is well regarded for compressing space in front of a backline, making challenges for every nearby ball, and being comfortable in retaining possession under pressure. In effect, as an anchor for the midfield, he can receive the ball from a central defender and keep the ball, pull an attacker in, before releasing the ball from the press. Plus, with a high success rate in challenges, the Belgian midfielder helps a team trigger a turnover, although he is slower to transition than others.
Gary Rowett, back in the day, praised Casper De Norre for getting into intelligent defensive positions, strengthening and protecting the backline from coming under pressure by taking the pressure himself. We can see the player not replacing Winks, but freeing the English midfielder and Welsh partner to maraud forward, knowing we have a stronger core capable of making good decisions and destroying chances.
Financially, the move is extremely feasible for the Foxes (8/10 perhaps), and as a pre-made, ready-to-go DM, the Foxes could upgrade their midfield easily with De Norre (7/10 perhaps). However, there is little resale opportunity, and as the player is not getting any younger, there is less potential in the signing (3/10). This would be an immediate short-term to medium-term fix for a problem while Sammy Braybrooke is integrated into the senior side.
Brief note: Watford's 26-year-old Imran Louza offers much greater potential. The deep-lying playmaker would take that progressive No.6 role, allowing Winks to focus on creation in the attacking half, rather than being the initial springboard. The player also offers goals and assists, where De Norre does not. However, I feel a more defensive option will help turn draws into wins with fewer goals conceded.
If Marti Cifuentes' Leicester City did sign these players, our ideal Foxes XI with those positions altered would look something like this: Jakub Stolarczyk, Victor Kristiansen, Jannik Vestergaard, Lloyd Jones, Ricardo Pereira, Casper De Norre, Harry Winks, Jordan James, Anis Mehmeti, Josh Sargent, and either Abdul Fatawu or Sorba Thomas, depending on opposition weaknesses. I could argue that a new left-back and an elite goalkeeper could also elevate this starting XI.