Yahoo News Sell, marry, avoid - Leicester City's transfer priorities with Steve Cooper favourites available
With Enzo Maresca’s replacement sourced Leicester City can now turn their attention to building a squad.
City obviously have their Profitability & Sustainability Rule calculation to consider – and the threat of a charge hanging over their heads so strengthening for the new challenge and doing so with an eye on the bottom line is not going to be an easy process.
However, strengthen they must, with moves to be made in most departments of the team – particularly up front - and we at LeicestershireLive have some advice for the decision-makers.
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Sell
The goalkeeping department is over-stocked with Jakub Stolarczyk primary back up to Mads Hermansen. There’s no obvious need to upgrade first choice but one of Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward should be moved on.
At 26-years-old and having played at Stoke City in the second half of last season Iversen is an obvious candidate.
So is Victor Kristiansen , the left back whose City career has been a non-starter. He managed 14 games before Maresca decided last season would be better spent away from the King Power Stadium. Kristiansen went to Bologna, did well and is currently at the Euros with Denmark. He most recently had his pocket picked by Kyle Walker in the build-up to Harry Kane’s goal. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be.
Marry
City can’t afford any misses in the transfer market this summer, that means risk needs to be minimised and potentially even concentrating on players Steve Cooper knows well. Two of those are Joe Rodon and Djed Spence .
Rodon’s time at Tottenham seems to be coming to an end and with his reputation polished by a solid season on loan at Leeds he is quoted as being available for £10million.
At 26-years-old he’s a good age, can play as a left-sided centre back and is well known to Cooper from their time together at Swansea City. Speaking at the time Cooper said: “It’s a real honour to work with him and the guys every day as they only want to improve and support their team-mates. Joe is a fantastic example of that. If he keeps going as he only good things will happen for him with club and country.”
Spence was an effervescent presence in the Nottingham Forest team which Cooper took into the Premier League. He’s also had a tough time at Tottenham, who are willing sellers and Spence could well jump at the chance to work with Cooper again.
He’s still young, very athletic and has a point to prove. Both could be cost-effective transfers.
Avoid
Trai Hume has a reputation as a superb professional, with good positional flexibility and a real never-say-die attitude on the pitch. He’s been linked with a move to City, Villa, Bournemouth and even Napoli.
However, as much potential as he undoubtedly has he doesn’t strike me as a player who is Premier League ready and it’s really important City don’t even consider getting sucked into a bidding war for a player who is decent in the Championship but still has some way to go to be considered ready for the top flight.
