Leicester City are set for a busy summer transfer window after immediately returning to the EFL Championship. Ruud van Nistelrooy was unable to guide the Foxes to safety and they head into the summer with an exodus of players anticipated.
Jamie Vardy has already announced that he'll leave the club when his contract expires in June. The legendary striker will bring an end to a 13-year spell at the King Power.
The 38-year-old won't be the only high-profile departure as the East Midlands outfit prepares for a squad overhaul. They have seemingly named their price for one of their first-team members who was linked with a move away in January.
Leicester place £17m price-tag on Wout Faes
Wout Faes was on Serie A side Lazio's radar earlier this year and the Italians are reportedly still chasing the Belgian centre-back's signature, per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness).
Leicester are thought to be after £17m (€20m) to sell Faes, who has been with the club since the summer of 2022. His value has dropped due to the Foxes' relegation, and it's a "certainty" that he'll be leaving because of "an agreement" struck between the two parties should they be sent packing from the top-flight.
Faes arrived from French outfit Stade Reims for a reported £15m, and quickly nailed down the centre-back starting berth. If he does leave the King Power, he'll do so having made over 100 appearances and being a member of the side that won the EFL Championship in 2024.
It's claimed that Faes' camp have been trying to engineer a move away for quite some time. Lazio look ready to pounce, especially with the 26-cap Belgium international available at a cut-price.
Faes exit opens door for Leicester loanee Ben Nelson
As many as four centre-backs could leave Leicester this summer, with Faes, Caleb Okoli, Jannik Vestergaard, and Conor Coady's futures uncertain. The rebuild that is likely to commence could see the club fast-track Ben Nelson into the first team.
Nelson, 21, has been on loan at Oxford United in the Championship and has caught the eye with impressive displays at Kassam Stadium. He's a product of Leicester's academy and could be one for fans to keep watch of next season.
Oxford boss Gary Rowett has suggested the England U20 international is ready to make the step up (via Leicester Mercury):
"He’s probably going to end up playing for Leicester’s team if he’s not playing for a Premier League team next season. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Nelson will likely return to City in the summer and could become Faes' direct replacement. He's already appeared nine times for the senior side and has two years left on his contract.