Leicester avoid need to sell in pursuit of top four
Since winning the Premier League in 2016, Leicester City have often been victims of their own success. Perhaps, that is finally about to end.
Over the past five summers they have sold N’golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell and raked in nearly £260million in transfer fees.
Due to their resources being smaller than the established “Big Six”, the policy of selling a star player every year has been the club model, even if it was sometimes difficult for supporters to accept.
This year, however, the Leicester squad could finally survive a summer unscathed.
Barring any unwanted and unexpected late drama, coveted players such as Youri Tielemans, James Maddison and Wilfred Ndidi will be staying at the King Power Stadium for the new campaign.
Maddison, the attacking midfielder, had been on the radar of Arsenal, but the signing of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid last week has now totally closed down any possibility of a deal taking the player away from Leicester.
The impact of Covid-19 on football’s finances cannot be overstated, but Leicester are now in a far stronger position than ever before.
Their growth and progress under Brendan Rodgers is clear to see, and the target of Champions League football is firmly in their sights. Rodgers said: “Over the years those players felt the need to move on and further their careers, which is absolutely fine as that’s the nature of the game. Some of the biggest clubs in the world will lose their players.
“You’ve always got to be preparing this pipeline of players so if you do lose them, you’ve got the next ones coming in. That’s something we’re very clear on here at the club.
“This summer, the players have been able to reflect on where we are at as a team and a club to move forward, and they feel they want to be a part of that. That’s great news.
“There’s obviously been things around James this summer [the links with Arsenal], but the reality is there was never an inquiry or a bid made. There has been no drama there.”
Tielemans, the Belgium international, remains in talks over a new contract and Leicester are quietly confident he will commit his future to the club. Leicester have also recruited well again this summer, with Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare, Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand the new arrivals.
After missing out on the top four on the final day two seasons running, the objective will be to finally make that next step under Rodgers.
This season, West Ham will represent one of the threats to that mission and Leicester lost both games in the Premier League against David Moyes’s side last season.
Maddison is one player who owes Rodgers a performance after missing the game in London last season due to a breach of Covid regulations.
“I am pretty sure this will be a big season for him,” Rodgers said. “He was outstanding over the course of pre-season, putting in a lot of extra work.
“He is such a technical player who has a wonderful view of the game. If he stays clear of some of the little niggles he has had, I am sure it will be a great season for him.”