It's important for Leicester, just like with any club, to have a strong youth academy. Not all players, unfortunately, work out. There is often a strong sentimental attachment for a player who has risen through the ranks. Players will reach a certain point where all sides need to just admit that it won't work anymore, even if there is a strong club history.
Luke Thomas has been with City since 2018. He joined and played from the Under-14s up through to the senior team today. Early youth team success for both club and country gave signs of optimism. He earned a Young Player of the Season recognition and a U21 Euro championship with England.
Since then, it's been difficult for him to find consistent minutes for LCFC. Twice he was sent out on loan to Sheffield United and Middlesbrough. Thomas has since joined the Foxes full-time, but the same issue persists.
At left back, he usually falls out of favor. It hasn't mattered. Whether under Enzo Maresca, Steve Cooper, or Ruud van Nistelrooy, someone else has gotten the nod over him. This is particularly telling during the 2024-2025 season. There has been very little to suggest that the defense couldn't use an upgrade. If nothing else, players on the backline could use a reshuffling in order to reset after a number of disastrous performances.
For Premier League matches, he's only made the roster 14 times. The LB has seen two starts and an appearance off the bench. In other competitions, meanwhile, between the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, he's had four total appearances.
It is difficult to impress when playing in limited time. It's further challenging when the appearances happen so spread apart. Simply put, he needs to play someplace where he can get regular minutes.
Writing is on the wall for Leicester exit
Even in Thomas' recent start against Manchester United in the FA Cup, he was subbed off shortly into the second half. The 23-year-old lacks the trust for him to enter games. Victor Kristiansen has a hold on the starting position. Ricardo is also returning from injury, and RvN appears more comfortable keeping James Justin on the right while putting Woyo Coulibaly on the left over Thomas.
The left back is technically sound. He distributes well with both feet and does well positioning himself. It's difficult to say too much more at this point, only due to the limited time on the field at this point. The main issue for him is that he's on the outside looking in, without a promising path of that changing any time soon.
He's made mistakes, but a lot looks easily correctable with increased, steady minutes. The Leicester Academy graduate isn't going to be afforded that opportunity in his current situation. It's time for the club to do right by him and their own best interests. Thomas should have a new permanent home in 2025-2026.