Yahoo News Alex Berenguer and five more free agents Leicester City could sign this transfer window
Marc Albrighton, Christian Fuchs, Esteban Cambiaso. All Leicester City icons and none of them cost the club a penny in transfer fees.
City have proven before there are excellent players to be signed in the free transfer market and that may need to be an area they operate in this summer. With concerns over their compliance of financial regulations, any way they can strengthen Enzo Maresca’s squad while spending little should be considered. Here, we run down six players who will be free agents this summer and who may pique City’s interest.
Alex Berenguer
This week, City were named as one of a handful of English clubs keeping tabs on Athletic Bilbao winger Berenguer as his contract nears its end. Talks are ongoing with the Basque club, and Berenguer said last year that he wanted to stay, but without a deal wrapped up and the end of the season approaching, it seems other clubs are taking a keener interest.
With Stephy Mavididi, Abdul Fatawu, and Kasey McAteer, City could probably do with one more winger for the new season. Berenguer seems a good bet on that front, as he can play on both sides and has plenty of top-flight experience in Spain and Italy. This season, he’s contributed eight goals and three assists across all competitions, while he’s been a consistent performer over the past few years, with no injury-hit or out-of-form seasons.
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Stefano Sensi
He’s the man Enzo Maresca wanted so desperately in January, to the point that the club’s inability to thrash out a deal with Inter Milan has been a bee in the Italian’s bonnet for the remainder of the season. But now City don’t need to get Inter involved at all.
At his best, Sensi is an exceptional passer of the ball and he would be somebody who can make a difference in the Harry Winks role or further forward. But so much of his recent career has been dogged by injury that even a free transfer would be a gamble.
Callum O’Hare
Attacking midfielder O’Hare has been offered a new deal at Coventry but has not yet signed it as he is waiting to see if any Premier League interest emerges. It wouldn’t be unfathomable for Leicester to make an offer.
With Dennis Praet leaving and Yunus Akgun returning to Galatasaray, they need to strengthen in attacking midfield this summer, and that’s without considering that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be sold. O’Hare’s qualities and attacking output mean he looks ready to step up.
He registered 14 goals and assists across the Championship and FA Cup this season. But that’s with missing the first few months through injury, and then needing a couple more to get back up to speed after a long lay-off with a cruciate ligament tear. He had a goal involvement rate of one every 149 minutes, just shy of Dewsbury-Hall, who had one every 143 minutes this season.
Che Adams
Kelechi Iheanacho could be leaving and there’s no certainty over Patson Daka either, who could get the move he was so close to securing last summer. In that case, a new striker will be needed.
As someone who can put themselves about but who also has an eye for goals, Adams would provide something different to Jamie Vardy. Plus, it would be great to bring a local lad home, the 27-year-old growing up in Thurnby Lodge. However, it seems like Wolves are the frontrunners to take him from Southampton at the moment.
Steven Alzate
Now back at Brighton after Standard Liege cut his loan short, Colombian international Alzate could be a decent pick-up in midfield. He’s not been as good this season, but last term at Liege, he showed himself to be very good at passing and dribbling the ball into advanced areas. He’s still only 25 too and may feel he has something to prove in the Premier League without having had an extended chance at Brighton.
Ross Barkley
The exact length of Barkley’s Luton contract is unknown, but it’s expected that the Hatters’ all-but-confirmed relegation will see the England international leave Kenilworth Road. And if so, he’s more than proven his Premier League quality again this term and should find a new club quickly.
Five goals and four assists in the Premier League for a struggling club like Luton is not to be sniffed at. At times, it’s felt like every good attacking move Luton have fashioned has come from Barkley in some way.
He may be 30 now, and he may have had difficulties at Chelsea, but the player who shone so brightly at Everton is definitely still there. He’d be a good signing for anybody who can get him.
