Leicester City’s 2022-23 rebuild: every player rated – who should stay and go this summer?
It’s been a ghostly summer on Filbert Way – but realistically, expecting anything else would have been very optimistic. Brendan Rodgers might have got a bit angry and threatened an overhaul after that pathetic pumping at Forest in the FA Cup, but even he would have been well aware of just how challenging it would be.
Leicester aren’t in the same place as, say, Tottenham this summer – there’s no cash injection to get early business done. Instead, this is a squad at the end of a cycle and in need of refreshment, largely having to achieve that in a sustainable way. Want players? Fine – but the deadwood’s got to go first.
Getting bodies out is far harder than throwing money around to get them in, however; with Premier League wages comes great challenges.
Therefore, a simple refresh… well, it just isn’t that simple. So here comes a realistic – albeit still optimistic, I fear – appraisal of where we might be at…
Keepers
The possibilities here are varied, and it boils down to the notion that all three of our current options must surely fancy themselves as a No.1 in 2022-23.
Kasper Schmeichel
Up to now, the dynamic with Ward has been straightforward: I’m it, you’re not. But might that be changing? Kasper just had his most questionable season yet, murmured things about wanting more Champions League football before he retires, and is likely our second-highest earner. At 35, and with only a year left on his contract, what's the play here? He might see a guaranteed year without Europe as a waste when he doesn’t have all that many left. For the team, something must change when it comes to this horrendous set-piece record – constantly marooned to his line, he’s as culpable as anyone.
Danny Ward
He'd done well to remain Wales' first choice for so long without regular club football, but recently watched Wayne Hennessey help them to the World Cup like a dog peering solemnly into a butcher's window. Nick Pope's exit to Newcastle should pave the way for Hennessey to start at Burnley – Ward simply can't afford to warm the bench if he's got any ambitions about this World Cup.
JOINT VERDICT: Rodgers may have a big call to make. If he really rates Ward and needs to free up cash on the wage bill, then letting Kasper go could be a prudent financial call. Realistically, though, it's most likely that little will change – save for Ward getting a few more games here and there, perhaps.
Daniel Iversen
After a superb loan at Preston, he’s not going to be sticking around as third choice in the summer he turns 25. Whether he’ll take another loan in the promise of more next summer remains to be seen.
VERDICT: LOAN… but most likely SELL
Any signings?
One third-choice keeper to replace the departed Eldin Jakupovic.
Defence
Ricardo Pereira
He might not have returned to his buccaneering levels pre-injury, but improvements have been steady ever since. He’s still great – can he stay fit? (Prepare the copy and paste – Ed.)
VERDICT: KEEP
Timothy Castagne
Reliably injury-free for the last few months, which was very welcome. His versatility will always be something Rodgers values.
VERDICT: KEEP
James Justin
I can’t remember exactly where I read that he’s viewed as a left-back long-term, but it’d make sense given the options available. He's had his first taste for England – the first of many, we hope. Another superb rotation option at full-back if required.
VERDICT: KEEP
Wesley Fofana
Thank god he's ours. Although he's recently signed that mega contract, we've probably got one more season before the big bids come in. He'll debut for France soon enough.
VERDICT: KEEP
Caglar Soyuncu
Played most of last season like a bloke who’d suffered a botched lobotomy: erratic, unreliable, utterly haphazard. At 26, though, he's probably one of the few sellable assets we've got to do better things with.
VERDICT: SELL
Jonny Evans
His stock has fallen – you can't look at our set-piece record without taking a hard look at Evans too. His all-round displays might make up for some of that, but it's hardly ideal when the next injury is mere moments away. Should he be relied upon as first choice?
VERDICT: KEEP
Jannik Vestergaard
Where to begin? A 6ft 7in centre-back who appears to be about 5ft 5in when jumping. Circumstances dictated that he played far more than hoped, but even his sub appearances designed to help shore things up were hopeless. Nothing less than a dreadful signing.
VERDICT: SELL
Daniel Amartey
He'll never be lauded but did a very decent job in tough circumstances last year. There's really no way he should be starting that often for a Europe-chasing side – but that's also fine.
VERDICT: KEEP
Ryan Bertrand
I was expecting Vestergaard to be rubbish. I was absolutely not expecting Bertrand to stink the place out like he did. It gives me hope that a previously reliable sort couldn't possibly be that bad again – and I think he should stay for reasons below – but good grief...
VERDICT: KEEP
Luke Thomas
A tricky one. Thomas has done very well for a lad chucked in at the deep end, playing in a side riddled with injuries – but what's best for him here? Another bit-part backup campaign or a full one starting regularly in the Championship, potentially?
VERDICT: LOAN
Any signings?
At least one new centre-back wouldn't go amiss – to replace Soyuncu, ideally. Two would be ideal with one eye on life after Evans.
Midfield
Wilfred Ndidi
It'll be good to have him back. He was out of sorts before getting crocked, but we've all seen enough to know the real player we've got. More of that guy, please.
VERDICT: KEEP
Youri Tielemans
Well, I guess none of us were expecting this. In many ways, the fact he’s still here figures – Youri suffered with the rest of them last year – but I thought his overarching class and reasonable price might still get him a good move. If he stays and signs a one-year deal to avoid us losing him for nothing next summer, I’ll be very pleasantly surprised. But ideally we’d have an answer sooner rather than later.
VERDICT: KEEP
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Beyond a European semi-final, his breakthrough was easily the best thing about last season. From nowhere to becoming our most important player last season – an all-round class act.
VERDICT: KEEP
Nampalys Mendy
A bit like that bottle of funky sauce you’ve got in your cupboard: it comes out irregularly, you’re not sure if it’s still going to be alright, but then it doesn’t let you down. He’s another who got played more than he should have last season, but one we shouldn’t really be looking to shift over others.
VERDICT: KEEP
Boubakary Soumaré
Ingloriously off the pace in his debut season; surprisingly so, for a bright young player we’d signed off the back of a title-winning season in Ligue 1. Rodgers clearly isn’t having him and it seems like his exit to France is merely a formality.
VERDICT: SELL… but likely LOAN
Hamza Choudhury
Oh, Hamza. We’d all love to see him do well somewhere, getting regular minutes – sadly, it’s just not going to be with us. Steve Bruce seems to have tried signing him more times than his own son – surely this is the summer when it finally happens. Permanently.
VERDICT: SELL
Dennis Praet
There have certainly been far worse signings over the last few years, but it never really felt like Praet was ever going to solidify a first-team spot. Now it seems a question of who he’ll leave for permanently, rather than if. Someone will likely get him on the cheap.
VERDICT: SELL
Harvey Barnes
Those signs of his old self towards the end of last season were hugely encouraging; before that, poor Harvey looked like his talent had been sucked by a Dream Team Monstar in 2021-22. We know he’s brilliant, and had bailed us out plenty enough in the two years before that – this year’s his to get back on track.
VERDICT: KEEP
Ayoze Perez
The fact he appeared so frequently towards the end of the season said enough. You could never doubt Perez’s efforts in a City shirt, but far too often his quality has been found wanting; too often it was never obvious what his best position actually was. A move would suit all parties… providing there’s a willing enough third one in this equation.
VERDICT: SELL
Marc Albrighton
There will be those who’ll never understand his qualities – but six Leicester managers in succession putting their faith in Albrighton should tell you enough. He’s perfectly adequate as a squad player.
VERDICT: KEEP
James Maddison
Of course we’d all love to see him through the middle every week, but last season the 25-year-old proved he can be highly effective from the right, too. It’s unlikely he’d be used there if Rodgers could find the elusive winger he’s after, but as things stand it’s probably a scenario we’ll all have to get used to. Either way, a lightbulb in the dark last year.
VERDICT: KEEP
Any signings?
This summer has been so quiet that even a straightforward permanent move for Ademola Lookman doesn’t appear to be in the works yet. Either way, two wide forwards feels like an absolute minimum. Centrally, there’ll be likely exits for Tielemans – if not this summer, next – and Mendy that will need taking care of in the near future.
Up front
Jamie Vardy
Fifteen goals despite missing virtually three months of the season, and outperforming his xG by 4.7. Is it any wonder he’s so bloody difficult to replace?
VERDICT: KEEP
Kelechi Iheanacho
The biggest and most unfortunate victim of Rodgers’ system. He’s always looked most effective in a two-striker system, and surely that’s up for consideration if quality widemen don’t arrive as hoped. When he’s on the pitch, his reliable goal threat is still a great asset.
VERDICT: KEEP
Patson Daka
It didn’t happen for him in his debut season, but the Zambian showed signs of what he’s got in his locker – you can’t score four times in one game without something about you. Realistically, stepping up from Austria was always going to be tough for a player who should have learned plenty last year. He’s 23. We’re all rooting for him.
VERDICT: KEEP
Any signings?
Nope.
The squad at a glance
GK: Schmeichel, Ward, (+GK)
DF: Castagne, Ricardo, Justin, Fofana, Evans, (+CB), Amartey, Bertrand
MF: Ndidi, Tielemans, KDH, Mendy, Maddison, (+CM), Albrighton, Barnes, (+Wide FW), (+Wide FW)
FW: Vardy, Daka, Iheanacho
OUT: Iversen (loan), Thomas (loan), Soyuncu, Vestergaard, Soumaré, Choudhury, Praet, Perez
