The King Power Club face major challenges as they fall into League One. Key players are expected to depart, while the immense £9m drop in base revenue from relegation to League One life imposes a tight squeeze on our recruitment strategy. A rebuild is necessary, yet difficult for the Foxes to afford.
Russell Martin may lose talent and face difficulties in the recruitment window, but Leicester retain advantages over its competition. With elite training and playing facilities, plus an impactful academy pipeline, Martin's side is well placed to give meaningful minutes to young players to accelerate development.
The Five Young Stars Russell Martin must Keep
With a maelstrom of upheaval expected, Leicester cannot afford to let go of their most promising young players. There is a core of five who should be kept, trusted with real minutes, and given time to develop as regular first-team options during our League One campaign.
LFCF are short across the pitch. The defence is in limbo (with the futures of Jannik Vestergaard and Caleb Okoli in question), midfield depth has been hollowed out, and the attack could lose more key talents before the window is done. The uncertainty makes our young stars vital to bolstering the team.
In the defensive line, Olabade Aluko stands out as having already been trusted at a senior level. The England U20 International offers valuable versatility across the backline, depth at right-back, and a stylistic option for a back three. Having already accumulated 10 senior appearances across all competitions, his adaptability and experience could make him a useful long-term option.
Midfield will require the largest rebuild. If Oliver Skipp is one of the few senior options to remain (all three loan midfielders are gone), Leicester City will need both a ball-winning and ball-progressing energy around him. This is where Sammy Braybrooke, Henry Cartwright, and Louis Page all show solid promise for Martin, as complementary talents.
Together, Braybrooke, Cartwright, and Page offer Martin a balanced midfield base with some tactical and stylistic flexibility. Braybrooke is the deepest-lying of the three: a progressive DM with tidy technique, a solid passing range, and the willingness to win the ball and move it forward swiftly. In a League One campaign where control and decisions matter, those qualities are invaluable.
Cartwright is more of a box-to-box midfielder, bringing an intensity, ball-winning mentality, and composure under pressure. His 42 appearances for Falkirk underscore a gritty determination and consistency for senior football. In partnership with Braybrooke, the Englishman could help the Foxes build a capable midfield.
Page is the most creative of the three. Despite a lack of senior chances to impress, he was, in fact, trusted with senior involvement. This highlights the coaching staff find his technical quality as an inventive passer with a knack for final third creativity useful. There remains the question of his physical and mental composure under pressure from defenders. This is where League One football could actually harm him.
Finally, Leicester City will need more goals if they are to challenge for promotion. Even if Russell Martin recruits a headline-attacking player to lead the line, Jake Evans has earned the right to contribute at the senior level. He scored 10 goals across 33 matches last season after hitting 15 the year before. Evans has that goal-scoring instinct. Equally, the academy striker offers movement across the line, is willing to run in-behind, and has the energy to stay involved even when attacks break down.
The Foxes' road back from League One will not be easy, but keeping a hold of their best young talent could give Russell Martin the foundation he needs. Aluko, Braybrooke, Cartwright, Page, and Evans offer the energy and kind of hunger this rebuild demands. If Martin is serious about a quick bounce back, these five need to be in the squad.
Add us as a preferred source on Google