The Fosse Way

After Neil Lennon left Leicester City in October 2000, it was years – perhaps decades – until he was properly replaced at the base of the midfield. It’s been a similar situation with the right side of midfield since Riyad Mahrez departed four and a half years ago.

We might not ever sign a right winger again but, just in case, Alex Malpass has some suggestions for the recruitment team.

Victor Tsygankov

Club: Dynamo Kyiv

Age: 24 years old

Don’t worry, there are other countries that have quality right wingers but Tsygankov has been one of my favourite players in the last 5 years and prior to the pandemic it was unthinkable that 3 years on he’d still be in Ukraine.

He was destined for a move to a top 5 European League and he has both the domestic, European and international pedigree deserving of a move. The ongoing war in Ukraine and his contract ending in the summer of 2023 make him even more of a no-brainer, especially if you consider Leicester don’t have infinite funds for the 2-3 new players we need this January and more come the summer.

2022/23 is business as usual for Tsygankov. In 17 appearances in the league, Champions League qualifying and Europa League, he has 5 goals and 4 assists but fixtures are obviously played in difficult circumstances right now. Last season before the war broke out, he got 11 goals and 4 assists in 25 games and the season before it was 15 goals and 9 assists in 34.

He is strong, quick and skilful, operating predominantly from the right wing and cutting in onto his bull hammer of a left foot, and would rival Maddison for set piece duty. Most interestingly, he has that talismanic aura about him which is something our club has lacked across the squad but which has been seen in Wout Faes and more of the same would be welcome.

8/10