Deal or no deal for these
WE CONSIDER WHO MAY QUIT CLUB THIS SUMMER AS THE FOXES PREPARE TO STRENGTHEN SQUAD
LEICESTER City have enjoyed a wonderful season under Brendan Rodgers, having reached the FA Cup semi-final, and more importantly, look odds on to clinch a top-four finish. Should they reach the Champions League, the income generated by being part of Europe’s elite competition will undoubtedly strengthen their transfer war chest when it comes to summer signings.
There has been talk of the Foxes making a move for Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard as a potential long-term replacement for Jamie Vardy, while Rodgers will have eyes on other areas of the squad he can improve.
But for all of the talk surrounding who Leicester should recruit once the transfer window reopens, what about those players who are out of contract? Leicester quickly tied up Jonny Evans’ long-term future given his deal was due to expire in the summer.
Islam Slimani and Demarai Gray both left as Leicester cashed in on the pair before their deals expired but there are still six players remaining at the club whose futures are shrouded in uncertainty. Here we take a look at those whose fate has yet to be decided.
Wes Morgan
The defender, left, has not played since last December due to back problems and Rodgers said that getting through 90 minutes is proving tough for one of the oldest outfield players at the club. At 37, he is in the twilight years of his career, but his status at the King Power Stadium is legendary and his off-field experience has proved vital to Rodgers.
In the last two summers, he has signed one-year deals, but the club has yet to decide whether he will be given another one.
On the surface, it looks unlikely and could lead to an emotional farewell for the title-winning skipper after nine-and-a-half years at the club.
However, Rodgers may feel his experience is so invaluable that he could be given a role among the staff, such is his reputation at the Foxes.
Christian Fuchs
Three years after he was initially supposed to move to America, Fuchs is still very much part of the furniture having played 16 games in all competitions this season.
He has certainly made a valuable contribution this term having only planned three years at City before joining his wife and kids in New York.
He keeps going back on his pledge and signing one-year extensions and still has plenty to offer even at 34.
But this summer might finally be his time to go.
To put Fuchs’ contribution this season into context, he had his longest run in the team for three years in the autumn.
However, he has not played since the 1-0 FA Cup win over Brighton last month.
With the emergence of Luke Thomas, who looks like another potential star of the future, it remains to be seen whether Fuchs will stay or make good on his promise of jetting out to the Big Apple.
Eldin Jakupovic
The veteran keeper is currently the third-choice stopper at the club, and while he hasn’t played a senior game since May 2018, he might be kept around.
Rodgers likes to have three senior goalkeepers and Jakupovic’s relationship with Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Ward is a strong one.
He is also respected by the aspiring number ones at the club and they all train together as part of the goalkeeper’s union.
Matty James
The midfielder is currently on
loan at Coventry City, but is expected to depart this summer on very good terms.
The chances of him breaking into a stellar midfield under Rodgers seems remote even after proving his fitness during loan spells with the Sky Blues and Barnsley earlier in the year.
But the quality of his performances will undoubtedly lead him to be the target of a host of Championship clubs.
Speaking about his future, however, Coventry look to be the frontrunners to land him having already discussed what the future holds for him under Mark Robins.
“That’s one of the conversations we had at the start and I appreciated that because, certainly coming off the back of a short loan spell at Barnsley, before that it had been quite tough for me,” said James.
“And the fact that Coventry, the gaffer and this club were willing to talk about the future after the loan meant a lot to me after all the work that I’d put in.
“Like I said to the gaffer, it was a case of focusing on each game so I didn’t get distracted by anything else. But it did mean a lot and it will be a conversation that will possibly happen closer to the end of the season once I have played the games and hopefully done well for the club.”
Sidnei Tavares
The midfielder’s future is up for debate amid a feeling that City face a battle to keep him.
He made his full Premier League debut this month at Brighton and is very highly-rated by Rodgers who watched him in a youth cup game on his first day in the job.
Tavares is currently in contract talks and City are hoping to convince him the King Power Stadium is the best place for him to continue his development.
But he has drifted onto the radar of clubs overseas including big names in his native Portugal, where he was born.
He moved to Leicester as a baby but has been at the club since he was a kid.
Speaking about his contract situation, Rodgers said: “I believe he is up at the end of the season.
“The club has been in discussions with his representatives. He is a very talented young player and he fits the profile of the way we want to work.
“I am pretty sure that will get resolved and until that time I will coach him, manage him and improve him as a player whether he’s here until the end of the season or beyond it.”
Cengiz Under
Not technically a Leicester player because he is on loan from Roma, but he had a bright start including assists for Jamie Vardy in some early cameo appearance.
The fans liked what they saw amid a demand for him to feature more often.
But the Turkish winger, right, has never been able to earn Rodgers’ trust over the defensive, tactical and physical side of the game. That has meant limited starts for him and a permanent deal once his loan deal expires this summer seems highly unlikely.