A few tears could be shed with several players likely to be turning out for Leicester City for the final time when the club face Blackburn on Saturday lunchtime
It could be another game to remember this Saturday when Leicester City lift the Championship trophy. But it could also be an emotional affair with a few fond farewells.
Supporters will remember in recent years when the likes of Danny Simpson, Shinji Okazaki, and Marcin Wasilewski signed off at the King Power Stadium, knowing it was their final match with the club. Tears were shed.
And there are plenty of players who could fall into that same bracket this time. Here’s a rundown of those who could be saying goodbye with their final game for the club on Saturday.
Marc Albrighton
Scorer of iconic Champions League goals and deliverer of impeccable crosses, Marc Albrighton looks set to swing a ball into the box for the final time in a City shirt this weekend. Out of contract and having not started a league game all season, the title-winning winger is not expected to be handed a new deal this summer. He is one of the club’s all-time greats and his departure may lead to some wobbly lips this Saturday.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Iheanacho has not started a game for City since December 2 and over the past few weeks appears to have dropped down to the bottom of the club’s striker pecking order. That does not bode well for him getting a new contract. While he can be infuriating and clumsy at times, Iheanacho has delivered plenty of great moments and was the hero of the club’s FA Cup run. If this is his final game, he should leave with a generous round of applause.
Dennis Praet
It has felt like Praet has been on the verge of leaving City every summer for the past three years, but he’s never quite secured that permanent move away. Out of contract and not a regular starter under Maresca, it’s expected he will leave this summer, allowing him to finally return to Italy, where his stock remains high.
Wilfred Ndidi
Ndidi’s been Maresca’s go-to man alongside Dewsbury-Hall in attacking midfield this season, and that feels like it should lead to a new deal. But while the Nigerian has improved in his new role, he’s not yet a natural at it, and with City moving up a division, the club may feel they need to bring in someone more suited to it. It’s not out of the question that this could be Ndidi’s final game.
Jannik Vestergaard
Nobody expected this to be true a year ago but Vestergaard’s performances and his importance to Maresca’s system possibly merit him getting a new contract. The doubts will be over his speed. Can he play as well in a league where City won’t have as much of the ball and where the strikers are speedier? If the club deem the answer to be no, then this weekend could be Vestergaard’s final outing.
Yunus Akgun
On loan from Galatasaray, City must decide if they’re going to make Yunus’s move permanent. Maresca has said he likes him, but has also converted him from his initial intended position out wide into a midfielder and he’s also said the Turkish international has had difficulties adjusting to a new league. If finances are tight, it may not be a deal City look at.
Callum Doyle
Another loanee, Doyle’s future looks destined to be at Manchester City. His quality on the ball means he should get at least a chance in pre-season under Pep Guardiola. If Man City do then decide to sell, he would probably be too expensive for Leicester to bring him back anyway.
Abdul Fatawu
If there is only to be one signing at City this summer, every fan at the King Power Stadium on Saturday would choose Fatawu. The reports from Portugal suggest City’s promotion will make Fatawu’s switch from Sporting Lisbon permanent, but that has not been confirmed, and amid the financial issues, it’s not yet certain he will be back next season.
Harry Souttar
Souttar, despite some very obvious strengths and good all-around qualities, has not been able to get a look-in under Maresca. An outing this weekend seems unlikely with a summer move required for the centre-back.
Danny Ward
He’s not played all season and is unlikely to get a game now. But he has continually been praised by Maresca for his support of the squad and his role as one of the older, more experienced players. But for the sake of his career, he needs to move on.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Selling the club’s best player after a promotion campaign should not happen. But it may do at City. They’re on track to breach Profit and Sustainability rules for this season and the best way to divert course is to sell players in June. As a homegrown player, and one who could attract a big fee, selling Dewsbury-Hall is the easiest way to generate a big profit and balance the books. City may be seeking alternatives so they don’t lose their star midfielder, but none are as simple as parting with the Shepshed dynamo. It would be a big shame if his City career finished this weekend.
Jamie Vardy
If not for Maresca’s comments this week, Vardy would get top billing here. His potential departure would signal the end of an era at City. But after the number nine plundered his 20th goal of the season, the manager said he has a feeling a new contract is going to be on the table. It’s not signed yet, so it’s not definitive that Vardy will play next season, meaning he stays on this list for now. But it’s looking more and more he will still be wearing blue in August.
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