The Foxes head coach was helped by some significant players not being sold on by the hierarchy, as well as some smart recruitment and players being able to adapt to his progressive way of playing.
One of the players that arrived over the summer was young defender Callum Doyle, who when fit has played a massive part in how Maresca’s defensive unit is formed – and he could be at the King Power Stadium to stay.
Maresca used his connections to the Premier League champions through being an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola to land the services of Doyle, who has previously been out on loan with Sunderland and then Leicester’s biggest rivals Coventry City.
That loan deal has gone pretty well so far, with Doyle playing on a regular basis when he hasn’t been injured, and according to a report from The Athletic, it is something that Leicester want to turn into a permanent arrangement in the near future.
Whilst City have an obligation to buy winger Abdul Fatawu from Sporting CP permanently when he reaches a certain amount of games, there is no such option to buy Doyle from Man City – presumably because the Citizens powers-that-be rate the left-footer that highly.
However, it is something that Maresca wants to happen and should Premier League promotion be secured this year, it is likely that Leicester will look into trying to structure a deal for the 20-year-old.
Doyle has however been restricted to just nine Championship appearances so far in 2023-24, owing to a knee injury picked up in September in a win over Bristol City at the King Power Stadium.
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