Leicester City transfer news as Steve Cooper prepares for the Foxes return to the big time by beginning to stamp his mark
Steve Cooper has been hard at work improving the Leicester City squad ahead of their return to the Premier League. Four players have been signed already and more business is certain to follow.
Fan favourite Abdul Fatawu made his loan move from Sporting CP permanent after promotion from the Championship. Jamaica international Bobby De Cordova-Reid signed on a free from Fulham and 22-year-old centre-back Caleb Okoli joined from Atalanta
As part of the deal that saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall move to Chelsea, Michael Goulding came the other way. But with three weeks until the Premier League campaign begins with an August 19 home clash against Tottenham (8pm), a number of positions still require attention.
The injury blow to back-up goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk means only one of Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen are likely to leave. Outfield positions need more additions, especially in attack
With all that in mind, LeicestershireLive has taken a look at how Leicester’s 25-man Premier League squad could look like in a dream scenario at Seagrave.
The rules for Premier League squad selection are laid out for all 20 teams. Under-21 players (born on or after January 1, 2003) do not have to be registered in the squad and can be used freely. There are no home-grown player quotes, like there is in European competitions, but there is a limit on non-homegrown players.
Premier League teams can name 17 non-homegrown players in the squad. This rule doesn’t just apply to non-English players, with individuals who have been at an affiliated Football Association club for three seasons before their 21st birthday. In City’s last campaign in the Premier League, the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Souttar and Ward were all classed as homegrown players.
Goalkeepers: Mads Hermansen, Jakub Stolarczyk, Danny Ward
Fortunately for Cooper, there are more positions that don’t require reinforcements. Goalkeeper is one of them thanks to the £6m signing of Hermansen last July. The Denmark international’s shot-stopping and elegant ball-playing skills make him a valuable option.
Stolarczyk’s injury means Cooper must decide on a number two. Ward was that man when Kasper Schmeichel was at the club and his reported £50,000-per-week wages will prove to be a stumbling block for any interested party, should he leave.
Daniel Iversen, 27, spent last season on loan and would attract more suitors than the Welshman, at a better price.
Defenders: Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Okoli, Coady, Spence, Justin, Thomas, Kristiansen
Basing this squad selection on Cooper’s tactics in the pre-season friendlies with Shrewsbury Town and Palermo, Leicester are well-stocked in defence. Harry Souttar and Ben Nelson need loans in the Championship, for different reasons, after Caleb Okoli’s arrival.
The Italian, alongside Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady gives Cooper four options for two positions. The perfect formula. At full-back, they find themselves in a similar boat but there’s reason for thought at left-back.
James Justin’s versatility makes him a superb asset at both right-back and left-back. Luke Thomas’ long-term future is unclear with question marks over his ability to play in the Premier League, as is Victor Kristiansen’s, who spent last season helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League.
Cooper has had the right-back attack more vs Shrewsbury and the left-back vs Palermo meaning there is the option for both. The latter saw Fatawu return to his preferred right wing meaning Kristiansen is the perfect player to do that job down the left.
If not, Pereira and Justin are the two players for right-back. However – and it’s a big however – the pair have suffered with hamstring problems in the past. A new right-back would be the smart path to take and a reunion with Djed Spence for Cooper would solve that.
The Tottenham defender has played under Ange Postecoglou in pre-season but Pedro Porro is ahead of him in the pecking order. He’s spent the last season-and-a-half on loan and another temporary exit makes sense.
Midfielders: Ndidi, Winks, Choudhury, Soumare, Sara, Golding, Nelson, Fatawu, Mavididi, McAteer
Ndidi and Winks are likely to be Cooper’s first-choice pivot this season. Hamza Choudhury continues to be a reliable option at right-back or midfield, and Golding’s arrival adds youth – albeit, perhaps he’s not ready to play in the Premier League just yet.
Boubakary Soumare is a difficult case. The French midfielder does show signs of quality at times but concerns over his work-rate and decision-making are a concern. There hasn’t been much interest in his services reported, but his quality is better kept at the King Power Stadium.
Should Cooper turn to recruitment chief Martyn Glover for a new midfielder, Gabriel Sara would be the perfect fit. The Norwich City star is one of the Championship’s hottest prospects and is reportedly attracting interest from a number of clubs, including Leicester and Leeds.
The Brazilian attacking midfielder scored 14 times and produced 13 assists last season and would be the replacement for Dewsbury-Hall that Cooper has already insisted he needs. After the defeat to Palermo, Cooper touched on the need for quality behind the striker in the transfer window.
Further forward, Leicester need more firepower. Matias Soule is a no-go and is certain to join AS Roma, meaning alternatives have to be considered. Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson is a target with the Gunners reportedly wanting £15m to £20m, but his wages could become a problem.
Cooper’s early tactics hint at the use of one attacker in the wide number 10 role on the left – which Stephy Mavididi has played in – meaning Leicester could attack with at least five players (right-back, right winger, left-inside attacker, left winger and centre-forward).
Even last night, in a less-complex 4-3-3, Leicester attacked with five players with the centre-forward, two wingers, attacking midfielder and overlapping wing-back. Kasey McAteer will fancy his chances at proving himself in the Premier League but a loan move would be better for Wanya Marcal.
Strikers: Vardy, Szmodics, Daka, De Cordova-Reid
Now time for the interesting part. Jamie Vardy is, and will be throughout, City’s first-choice striker. However, it would be deluded to place hope on the 37-year-old being able to supplement Cooper’s pressing team for 90 minutes all season.
Patson Daka came close to leaving last summer but showed improvements to his overall game under Enzo Maresca. Do Leicester need three strikers? When you consider that Leicester line-up in a 4-4-2 out of possession, perhaps.
Tom Cannon is a popular figure among supporters but he’s still only 21 and hasn’t played regular football for a year. Championship clubs are lining-up for his signature and a temporary move away would allow Cooper to add to his forward line.
Blackburn Rovers’ Sammie Szmodics is still a viable option. The 28-year-old is hot property after scoring 33 goals last term but Leicester will have to act quickly. Leeds United and Ipswich Town are both showing interest but the Foxes were linked with him earlier in the summer.
His high-energy style of play would fit in well with Cooper’s ideology. Playing as a centre-forward or shadow striker is his bread and butter, offering him support at centre-forward and in the left attacking midfielder role.
De Cordova Reid, who could also do the role Mavididi, is also an option at centre-forward and out wide. His versatility is a key reason behind the positive reaction to his arrival.
In total, this Leicester squad uses up 24 of the 25 available with Fatawu and Golding the under-21s. That would allow another signing or space for one of the five players sold to remain at the club.
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