Yahoo News Three transfers Leicester City are tipped to make for Premier League survival battle
While Leicester City need to think about sales and balancing their books to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules, they must also plan for signings.
Their squad needs strengthening to help their battle for Premier League survival, especially if they are hit with a points deduction. Smart recruitment is a necessity this summer.
Signings before July and the start of the new accounting year seem unlikely, but that has not stopped bookmakers tipping City to target a few of the big names expected to be on the move this summer. Here, we analyse three players that William Hill have City in the running for and whether they will be at the King Power Stadium come September.
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Kalvin Phillips
City are currently 5/1 third favourites to sign the Manchester City and England midfielder, behind Everton and his former club Leeds. Phillips had a torrid time on loan at West Ham and it certainly feels like the 28-year-old needs a new permanent home to get him back to the form that saw him establish himself as a regular starter for the Three Lions.
But that home seems unlikely to be at the King Power Stadium. In the position Phillips would play, at the base of the midfield, City already have Harry Winks, and he’s expected to be one of the first names on the teamsheet come August.
City also have Hamza Choudhury as Winks’ deputy, and they are in talks with Wilfred Ndidi over a new contract, with the Nigerian potentially returning to a defensive midfield role in the new season. If City are going to strengthen in midfield, they need forward-thinking options, and so a move for Phillips would be a surprise.
Matt O’Riley
This seems a lot more like it in terms of what City will be craving this summer. But O’Riley has had such a good season with Celtic that he may be out of their league.
In 49 games across all competitions, the midfielder registered a hugely impressive 19 goals and 18 assists, helping the club to the league and cup double and earning their player of the season award. Such a campaign has not gone unnoticed.
City are among a glut of clubs at 10/1 or shorter to sign the 23-year-old, with Atletico Madrid, West Ham, Newcastle, Inter Milan, and Tottenham all supposedly in the running. Such competition, and a rumoured price tag of £25m, mean City may not stand a chance of bringing the Danish international to the King Power Stadium.
Sammie Szmodics
City conceded twice to Szmodics on the final day of the season as he secured Blackburn’s survival and clinched the division’s top scorer award. It was an incredible campaign for the Irishman, with 33 goals across all competitions.
Such a scoring feat means transfer interest, and it will be interesting to see which clubs are in for the attacking midfielder, given he’s never had a season even close to these levels before, and given he’s now 28 and approaching his peak. Blackburn are said to be demanding between £15-20m for his transfer.
Signing the best players from the Championship is a classic move for a promoted club, and City certainly need to bolster their ranks in attacking midfield. They’re currently at 8/1 to be Szmodics’ next club, with West Ham, Everton, and Galatasaray at shorter odds, but it may be that City look for a cheaper, younger player to strengthen in that area.
