An early look at how Leicester City’s summer transfer window might work, with transactions and contracts to finalize before considering bringing players in.
Three months from now is when the Premier League will begin, thus Leicester City has plenty of time to assemble a side that can fulfill Enzo Maresca’s declared goal of survival.
It’s possible that they lack resources. The club doesn’t want to take the chance of more problems by making big summer purchases because they have already been hit with one charge for allegedly breaking financial regulations and are facing another unless they sell players before the end of June.
But City must first assess their current situation before determining what they want in the summer window and how best to use their budget. The first duty is to sort contracts for those whose deals expire this summer.
Who could stay and who could go
A maintained list serving as official confirmation ought to arrive shortly. As of right now, it’s believed that negotiations are taking place, if not with Jamie Vardy and Jannik Vestergaard, then at least with Marc Albrighton, Dennis Praet, and Kelechi Iheanacho. Most people are unsure about Wilfred Ndidi’s future, but Maresca has made it clear that he wants to keep him on staff.
After that, sales become the main focus. Because the EFL believed that City was headed toward a violation of the Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR), they were placed under a transfer embargo. Selling may be their only remaining chance to balance the books in time for the conclusion of the accounting period on June 30.
The amount of money City must make to guarantee compliance with the rules is unknown, but the fact that they must let go of players jeopardizes their finest players. In June, Maresca anticipates Premier League interest in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who is by far the team’s most profitable player. Mads Hermansen and James Justin might also be pursued.
City do have players surplus to requirements that could help their cause, such as Daniel Iversen, Harry Souttar, Victor Kristiansen, and Boubakary Soumare, but selling them may be more difficult than finding interest in their top stars, especially at fees that can make a difference to their PSR compliance.
Where City will be looking to strengthen
When it comes to improving the squad, the midfield looks to be the area requiring the most attention. Maresca is likely to want a couple of new faces to play in the advanced roles behind the striker, and that’s even if Dewsbury-Hall does remain at the club.
The position occupied mostly by Ndidi this season seems ripe for a true attacking midfielder. Maresca has suggested that Ndidi, if he does stay, could fall back into a defensive role, meaning City will need at least one new starter for one of the number eight slots. Given the qualities needed to play in such a position, it could be an expensive deal.
However, City also needs more depth there. They lost a midfield player in January when Cesare Casadei rejoined Chelsea, and Maresca is severely lacking in that position now that Praet has left and Yunus Akgun is unlikely to come back. If Will Alves can demonstrate in the preseason that he can at least cover those spots, it would be a huge boost.
The move of Abdul Fatawu is one that City is anticipated to finish. He is expected to leave Sporting Lisbon permanently for about £14.5 million, but Kasey McAteer and Stephy Mavididi, both Ghanaians, would benefit from further competition from a new winger.
Maresca will also have high expectations for a left-footed defender now that Callum Doyle is returning to Manchester City. It might be another costly trade to make because they would need to have a lot of quality in possession and speed to make comeback runs.
