A look at how a perfect transfer window could pan out for Leiceser City, with the likes of Conor Coady, Tom Cairney, and Ilias Chair among those already linked with a move
With the futures of so many Leicester City players up in the air, and with plenty of transfer business expected over the next eight weeks, it is difficult to predict how the team will look come the opening day of the Championship season.
Sales are likely as City not only build themselves a transfer budget but also strip back their wage bill. Then, new signings will come in as City try to build a squad capable of promotion straight back to the Premier League.
So what would a dream window look like? Of course, in an ideal world, the likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes will agree to new contracts and wage cuts, committing to getting City back into the Premier League. But that’s extremely unlikely to happen. So, realistically, what would a perfect window look like?
Starting at the back, the centre of defence is a priority position for City. If there is confidence in Daniel Iversen being number one in the Championship – and his performances so far have shown he should be good enough – then City don’t need a new goalkeeper, with Alex Smithies more than capable of being number two should Danny Ward move on. Plus, City have plenty of options at full-back even if Timothy Castagne is sold, with James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, Victor Kristiansen, and Luke Thomas at their disposal.
But it may be that two new centre-backs are needed. If City keep Wout Faes to play alongside Harry Souttar, that should give them a solid partnership at the very least. But adding some experience may be helpful, so re-signing Jonny Evans would be handy, or, alternatively, bringing in Conor Coady from Wolves. The England international is said to be available for just £4.5m this summer, and would be a top-level defender at Championship level.
Then, City could turn to a younger option. They have been linked with 20-year-old England youth international Ronnie Edwards, currently at Peterborough, and he feels like the type of signing the club should be making as they not only build for a promotion push, but also for the future. He made 40 appearances for the Posh in League One this season, and so should be ready for the step up.
Then it’s to the midfield, where City need at least three new recruits. If Hamza Choudhury and Boubakary Soumare stick around, that may cover City in the defensive roles, but they would need more forward-thinking players alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Tom Cairney, who has been linked with City, would be a sensible signing as an experienced player who thrived in Championship promotion campaigns with Fulham. He has excellent stats for progressing the ball up the pitch and getting it into attacking areas, and that would ease the burden on Dewsbury-Hall.
Then City need to think about attacking midfielders who could provide what City will miss without Maddison in their side. They are rumoured to have interest in QPR’s Ilias Chair, who has been a consistently good performer at Loftus Road, even in a Rangers side that has not always pulled up trees.
Then City should perhaps look to bring in a Premier League youngster on loan for a cheaper deal. Man City stormed to a third straight title in Premier League 2 this season and have some very talented teenagers in their ranks that may be due a first taste of senior football.
If City wanted an out-and-out attacking midfielder, Norwegian youth international Oscar Bobb looks the player to enquire about. A tricky dribbler, he registered six goals and 16 assists in 25 Premier League 2 matches this term. If City wanted a midfield all-rounder who can contribute in attack, then Kian Breckin may be the Man City youngster to target.
At the top end of the pitch, City may not need a new striker. In an ideal world, they would keep Kelechi Iheanacho, but even if they don’t, Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy should have the quality to get plenty of goals.
But on the wing, City are desperate. Once Barnes is sold, they would be left with just Marc Albrighton, and so as many as three new players may be needed out wide.
Again, City could look to the loan market. Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is a left-footed right-sided winger who has just recorded a combined 23 goals and assists on loan at Charlton in League One. If the Eagles don’t need him in their first team yet, what with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to call on, he could be loaned to the Championship, and City would be wise to snap him up.
On the left side, Alieu Fadera, a Gambian international playing for Zulte-Waregem in Belgium, looks like he could be a worthwhile pick-up. Signing from a smaller club in Belgium worked for Burnley this season after they brought in Anass Zaroury from Charleroi, with the Moroccan helping to fire them to the second-tier title.
City could repeat that trick with Fadera, who is only 21, and so has room to progress, and has just scored seven goals and set up seven more in Belgium’s top flight, despite Zulte-Waregem suffering relegation. He is right-footed and likes to cut in off the left, and so would be a potential replacement for Barnes.
