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By Jonathan Lewis | May 13, 2022
Leicester City chairman Brendan Rodgers is preparing for a busy summer transfer window. The Northern Ireland coach reportedly quit for losing a handful of key first-team players at the end of the season, although this could certainly help fund a squad renewal that Rodgers has desired for the past 12 months. Belgium international midfielder Yuri Tillmans is likely to be the subject of the biggest interest this summer, as the City star midfielder appears to be no closer to agreeing to a new, long-term contract at King Power Stadium.
Tillmann’s contract will expire next summer, meaning this window represents Leicester’s last chance to cash in on the £32m Foxes paid for his services from Monaco in 2019. Arsenal are said to be seeking his signature, with Mikel Arteta. To look forward to the Belgian becoming a long-term player in the Arsenal midfield. although Qualification for the UEFA Champions League A must to lure Tielemans to North London.
England midfielders James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are also said to be attracting the eyes of Premier League scouts. Arsenal are once again sniffing at Madison, having had so much interest this time last year. Title contenders Liverpool also keep an eye on Barnes on a regular basis, as Barnes’s high-energy style appears to fit in well with the Reds’ Gegenpress system.
Long-time fox stars can move forward
Some of Leicester City’s so-called ‘old guard’ may be spending time in their careers at King Power Stadium. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been the subject of intense media speculation, with the club’s captain questioning his future only last month. The Denmark international has 12 months left on his deal and earlier in the season said he might look to “try somewhere else” before hanging up his gloves. With change in full swing elsewhere within Leicester’s backbone this summer, Rodgers may be loath to sell the captain and would rather risk losing him for nothing at this time next year.
It’s a similar story for veteran Leicester striker Jamie Vardy who, like Schmeichel, is entering the final year of his contract. It would definitely be the end of an era in which Leicester and Vardy broke up. Vardy Midas’ touch in front of the goal helped the Foxes to do that The Premier League title is a miracle In 2015/2016, having started the season as a player out of the 5000/1 ranking. This unprecedented success cemented Vardy – and the rest of the 2015/16 squad – in Leicester City folklore.
The Foxes hierarchy could consider moving it around for some value, but only if Rodgers had a long-term alternative in mind. And Dutch striker Joel Perrault is said to have been on his radar. The former PSV Eindhoven player has shone for Swansea City this year, scoring 24 goals in 46 appearances.
Rodgers is also ready to rearrange the group among his marginalized players, with the likes of Ayoz Perez, Caglar Soyuncu and Hamza Choudhury all said to be available for a move this summer. Turkey centre-back Soyuncu and Spain striker Perez are likely to attract reasonable transfer fees that could be reinvested in Rodgers’ rebuilding plans.
Team areas that Rodgers can recreate
Rodgers’ number one priorities for entry this summer include a new long-term center back. With Soyunko on the way out and veteran defender Jonny Evans entering the last 12 months of his current deal, a center back who can form a long-term pairing with Wesley Fofana would be very beneficial. Brazilian defender Gleeson Bremer is said to be near the top of Rodgers’ wish list. The Torino man has been in solid shape in Serie A this term, and Leicester have also secured Dennis Bright on loan at Torino, who could be used as a major force to bring Bremer to the East Midlands.
With Youri Tielemans almost certainly out at the end of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, Rodgers will need a dynamic new midfielder capable of working from box to box. Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra is said to be someone owned by the Foxes’ recruitment department been tracked for some time. The 18-year-old joined Ligue 1 side Strasbourg this season and has also represented France’s U-16 and U-18 teams recently.
