The Week in Leicester: rumours, rogue agents – and a dose of Rodgers nonsense
In a brand new feature on The Fosse Way, Joe Brewin wraps up the good, bad and ridiculous of a week at the club. Naturally, there’s no shortage of the latter.
The good
Tuesday was quite the head rush. Seeing Harry Winks’ name tumble out of a John Percy tweet felt like the true beginning of this transfer window for Leicester City – but seeing Zach Steffen, Conor Coady and Joel Piroe also launched into the ether within 24 hours was all a bit fishy.
Either the club’s chief tattler just got clued up after their summer jollies, or it’s all a devilish ruse to smoke out the club mole by Jon Rudkin, who will now spend his summer casually name-dropping red herrings around Seagrave until some poor sap leaks that Michael Chopra’s on his way for a medical.
But no… this really is the Great Rebuild! And judging by the quote retweets, Leeds fans are quivering.
The bad
Soon, we’ll be big enough to stop getting annoyed with Brendan Rodgers. Today is not that day. Not while Celtic’s prodigal son is still coming out with pearlers like this:
Close! Still, the Celtic Fox mafia has rallied around such conquests in a tournament that didn’t exist until last season, and Rodgers initially claimed he had no knowledge of. “He … reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, which suggests he’s learned to be a bit more pragmatic,” said Neil Lennon, who presumably slipped into a coma shortly after that night in Rome. “They made a mistake in sacking him in my opinion, particularly with the fixtures they had left. I believe he would have kept Leicester up if he’d stayed.”
James Maddison’s exit has at least been wrapped up swiftly. It could have gone differently, according to Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw. “I’d love to see Villa get in first and have a real go for Maddison,” he’d said. “We’re in the same bracket as Spurs and Newcastle, looking to strengthen and challenge for a Champions League spot in the new season.”
He’s doing his old club a disservice, though: which one of those three clubs is the only one that won’t be playing European football next season?
Not that it’s stopped anyone else…
The daft
STEP IT UP, FOX BOY.
Meanwhile, academy head of education Matt Clarke posted on LinkedIn to say he’s “happy to share” that he’s left the club. Yippee!
Jamie Vardy’s had a busy week, too – apparently offered to Trabzonspor by his agents, presumably so they had something to do in June. Still: the striker has rejected a move to Saudi side Khaleej FC, keeping the Turkish dream truly alive.
Hot goss
Just a bit, mate: Winks, Steffen and Piroe are the solid links to come from our traditionally clued-up journos, with Coady set to join for £7.5 million imminently.
Chuck in PSG midfielder Ayman Kari, according to reports in France, on top of whispers about Arsenal youngster Zach Awe and Parma’s Adrian Bernabe.
There’s still lots of work shifting players – but plenty to suggest those plans will come to fruition. If Harvey Barnes is said to be the next big-ticket item, he might be quickly followed by Timothy Castagne (agreed personal terms with Juventus), Kelechi Iheanacho (linked to the mega trio of Besiktas, Everton and Burnley), and Patson Daka (amusingly linked with Kel for a double deal to Roma).
But Brendan doesn’t fancy Wilfred Ndidi at Celtic. His amnesia cured fast.
Thing we learned
We’ve trialled a few Thai players in the past – but this excellent thread explains why 20-year-old Suphanat Mueanta has more of a chance to do King Power proud than anyone.
Oh, and Championship clubs can name nine subs next season – up from seven – and use five. Things are looking up, Jannik!
Anything else?
Mark Waller leaves a glorious medical legacy to rejoin Rangers as head of medicine. There’s only one doctor for us now:
