Okoli transfer could leave Leicester with one unwanted centre-back

Caleb Okoli is the subject of purportedly concrete interest from Serie A this summer, with Leicester City valuing the defender at £6.9 million amid firm and multiple enquiries from top-flight Italian clubs. The pursuit strikes a distinctly curious chord, however, given how Okoli never truly won over the Leicester faithful, whose frustration with his pace, decision-making and distribution was plain to see throughout his time at King Power Stadium.

It remains a genuinely bemusing talking point that one of Europe's top five divisions is essentially actively chasing a player whose EFL Championship displays were frequently met with groans. LCFC supporters often struggled to identify with or spot the qualities that have attracted overseas suitors.

This uncertainty coincides with a defensive unit already braced for further upheaval, as Harry Souttar is widely tipped to follow Okoli out of the exit door before the transfer window closes. Sheffield United recently returned with an improved bid, as per John Percy.

The situation surrounding Wout Faes only deepens the intrigue; his was a position that once looked entirely untenable after he was marginalised and eventually loaned to Monaco, where a permanent move failed to materialise due to incompetence. His relationship with sections of the fan base has become fractured, and few would have predicted Faes would still be in Leicestershire come the start of a League One campaign, let alone poised to be its most senior defensive figure.

Russell Martin is possibly initiating a remarkable reversal: did he convince the Belgium international to remain on Filbert Way and help the push for promotion, in a move that potentially mirrors Enzo Maresca's successful persuasion of certain footballers to stay and star in their Championship title triumph? Martin, a pragmatist who nonetheless carries a clear sense of his own authority, has publicly highlighted Faes as a model professional who has been training well, strongly signalling he may be brought back into the fold.

Worries for Leicester City at the back

Should Okoli and Souttar both depart, and with Ben Nelson sidelined through injury, Faes would suddenly stand as Leicester's sole centre-back with any experience. That would leave the East Midlanders desperately short in a pivotal position, forcing either the rapid promotion of untested academy graduates or urgent investment in new recruits.

Yet even one successful signing would still leave the squad worryingly thin at the heart of defence. The scale of the task facing Martin is becoming clearer by the day, with a defensive rebuild required before a ball has even been kicked in tier three.

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