TFW Transfer Targets: 3 centre backs Leicester City should be scouting
This may not seem such a pressing concern since Wout Faes arrived on the scene and Daniel Amartey turned into Franco Baresi but form can dip, injuries can hit and the other options at the back aren’t great for various reasons.
Most fans would agree we still need more at centre back. Alex Malpass has had enough of snazzy European destinations on TFW expenses so he’s gone up north to scout a couple of contenders. Okay, and the south of France…
Anel Ahmedhodžić
Club: Sheffield United
Age: 23 years old
How on earth this lad resisted the temptations of elite clubs not once, when he surprisingly went on loan to Bordeaux, but then twice when he returned to Malmo and signed for Sheffield United for a bargain fee I do not know.
I've never been more convinced of a player suited to the highest level of English football than Anel. He has everything, he's strong physically in aerial and on the ground duels, good on the ball, exceptional at defending and attacking set pieces - 4 goals already this season speaks for itself.
He has strong leadership qualities and I honestly don't see a weakness in his game. He has great experience already for a player of 23, he's played a number of UCL and EL matches, as well as being an established international for Bosnia-Herzegovina.
I absolutely love him and the mere thought of him and Wout Faes as a defensive pairing is obscene.
Nottingham Forest foolishly let him go out of their academy as well, so let's get him down the Blue Army so they can tell us they don't care about us or him when he scores the winner at the City Ground in January.
9/10
Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Club: Manchester City (on loan at Burnley)
Age: 20 years old
Staying with vastly talented defenders currently playing in the 2nd tier of English football (Jacob Greaves at Hull City was also considered for this pick), Harwood-Bellis has not only caught my eye but recently been linked to us.
His contract at Manchester City expires in 18 months and Leicester’s new Head of Recruitment Martyn Glover has a track record of looking at elite academy players whose contracts are nearing expiry and who are eager for Premier League football. Manchester City have also been very open to selling such players too, where they can fetch a decent fee and invest that in more established players.
Harwood-Bellis has started brilliantly at Burnley, who are top of the league. Vincent Kompany had him previously at Anderlecht and wanted him again at Turf Moor, which is telling in itself.
His stats at that level look very progressive, he's in the top percentiles for aerial challenges won, interceptions and a key one in the modern game for a defender - progressive passes.
Could he be the Fofana type defender we've lost, alongside Faes, the defending-loving trusty and reliable warrior we've already gained?
7.5/10
Anthony Rouault
Club: Toulouse
Age: 21 years old
You can do a lot worse than to just look at what young defenders France have coming through each season to see who is next in line for clubs like ours to target.
Luckily Rouault has plenty about his game that makes him stand out in a high calibre pool of talent and I've mainly picked up on him from looking at two other Toulouse players this season in Farès Chaibi (potential Maddison/Tielemans replacement) and Zakaria Aboukhlal (Mahrez vibes).
He's impressed me the most so far though in his displays and consistency. He is in the top percentiles for all the key defensive attributes and progressive passes. He's a stylish defender, oozes confidence and personality and could ease the pain of us having our young French wonderkid ripped away from us last summer.
He would cost less than £20m which would see us still have nearly £35m left over from the Fofana money with two top class defensive replacements in Rouault and Faes.
8.5/10
