Harry Souttar, despite his well-known injury difficulties, is on the shopping list of several Championship clubs this summer.
Sheffield United, Stoke City, West Ham United, and Wrexham have all been credited as being interested second tier parties looking at the towering Leicester City defender, with the 27-year-old catching the eye recently at the 2026 World Cup with Australia, as he was a forceful presence throughout for Tony Popovic's underdogs.
If he can remain injury-free, he is a top-drawer Championship defender, as he has a mighty 35 clean sheets next to his name in the tiring division, when putting his commanding 6-foot-6 frame to good use.
It remains to be seen who will win the Leicester number 15's services, though, with the Foxes placing a hefty £10m price-tag above his head.
The latest on Souttar leaving
With a lot of interest now popping up for his signature, Martin and Co. won't be giving away the in-demand defender cheaply.
£10m does feel like a substantial amount, but they have just got £20m out of Ipswich Town for Abdul Fatawu, who had similarly long spells in the King Power treatment room, especially during the 2024/25 season.
Therefore, the Foxes aren't messing about, and it appears that the Blades could be willing to cough up an amount around this ballpark to win their former loanee permanently.
The rumour in the air is that Chris Wilder's men could win Souttar for a move that sees them fork out £5m initially, but with £3m add-ons taking the deal to the £8m mark, which is only £2m off that reported price tag.
Souttar is clearly well-liked by the outspoken manager, so this feels like a move the adopted Australia international would jump at, as he tries to establish himself, again, as a feared Championship defender, away from constant injury setbacks.
This breaking development that the towering centre-back looks set to leave the King Power behind this summer might make this wantaway youngster think twice about departing.
The wantaway defender who could now stay
Souttar could be just one of many defenders who ups and leaves Martin's men on the brink of the new League One season, with Ben Nelson consistently tipped for a move away.
There is also the ongoing feeling that Wout Faes will be moved on, having now overstayed his welcome in Leicestershire.
With the Scotsman also the sort of manager who is willing to experiment with youth, as seen in his youth-centric lineups this pre-season with Kirsten Otchere leading the line, there could be a way back for Tom Wilson-Brown, despite reports that he didn't travel out to the Spain training camp, as he was deliberating over a move away from his boyhood club.
He is far down the pecking order at the moment, but remove Souttar, Nelson, and Faes from the equation, and a route to the first team does open up, with Wilson-Brown impressing in spurts last season in League Two with Swindon, as the self-assertive Ian Holloway was a fan from the sidelines.
The 21-year-old won a dominant 6.6 duels on average in the fourth tier last campaign, meaning he could be slotted into the first team shortly, to try and make up for the imperious Souttar no longer being around.
There has been radio silence on the matter since it was revealed Wilson-Brown was eyeing up a move away, so it remains to be seen whether he stays or not.
But, you would imagine, he must be reconsidering his next steps, with a hole at the back forming if the 6-foot-6 giant departs.
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