5 Positions Leicester Need to Strengthen & the Players They Should Sign to Fix Them - Summer 2020

​When Brendan Rodgers arrived at the King Power Stadium in February 2019, not even the most optimistic Leicester fans still revelling in the great title-winning season of three years previous could have predicted the sharp turnaround the Foxes have undergone. 

Despite being a boring, lifeless side under previous boss Claude Puel, Leicester are now one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League, and the Foxes can fully expect to be playing Champions League football next season - pandemic pending, of course.

However, if you're standing still in football, then you're already moving backwards.

Leicester need to strike while the iron is hot and, despite boasting some of the best players in the top flight this term, there is plenty of room for improvement in the east Midlands. As a result, the Foxes would be wise to dip in to their pockets again this summer and bolster a side set for great things in the foreseeable future.

With that in mind, here are five positions that Leicester need to strengthen this summer, as well as who should be at the top of their wish list.


Left-Back

Ben Chillwell

​​Leicester are fortunate enough to have uncovered one of the most promising young defenders in English football - Ben Chilwell - over the past couple of seasons, but as quickly as he's arrived onto the scene at the King Power, he could soon disappear. 

With the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City lurking in the shadows, the Foxes may have to plan for life without the 23-year-old this summer, and should be in the market for an adequate back-up in any case.

With Christian Fuchs now at the ripe old age of 34 and James Justin more suited to playing at right-back, Rodgers would find himself in a spot of hot bother should Chilwell decide to pack his bags in the near future.

Suggested Options:

Kostas Tsimikas

One man Leicester have had their eye on for some time is £25m Olympiacos left-back Kostas Tsimikas, who has thoroughly impressed this season in Greece. However, the Foxes could face stiff ​competition from the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham for the 23-year-old's signature.

Porto's Alex Telles has been another name bandied about by various gossip columns, with the Brazilian set to reject a new contract with the Dragons in favour of a move abroad, but a £40m price tag may dissuade Rodgers.

22-year-old Jamal Lewis - who only furthered speculation linking him with a move to Leicester after scoring a magnificent winning goal against them for ​Norwich in February - is also a highly sought after option on the left-side of defence, and the Canaries' expected relegation would certainly help the Foxes' pursuit.


Centre-Back

Caglar Soyuncu

​While Leicester actually boast one of the most consistent and highly-rated centre-back partnerships in the ​Premier League at the moment, they still find themselves a little thin at the heart of their defence.

Good news for Leicester fans is that ​Caglar Soyuncu has seemingly pledged his short-term future to the club, while Jonny Evans is still going strong aged 32. 

However, club captain Wes Morgan is now 36, Ryan Bennett's loan from Wolves is unlikely to be made permanent and Filip Benkovic is yet to make an impression in the Midlands, being shipped out on loan to Bristol City in the meantime.

All this leaves Leicester without strong enough reinforcements should anything happen to either of their starting centre-backs.

Suggested Options:

Lazio Roma v Celtic FC: Group E - UEFA Europa League

Rodgers may be keen to reunite with former employee Kristoffer Ajer, who looks set to leave Celtic this summer and with the Norwegian strongly linked with a move to the King Power.

If the 2015/16 Premier League champions want to stay a little closer to home, then Brighton's Lewis Dunk and Bournemouth's Nathan Aké are both viable options, especially if one of the aforementioned clubs was to get relegated. 

Long-term target and ​Juventus youngster Merih Demiral is still reportedly interesting Leicester, despite the 22-year-old having suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the campaign.


Central Midfield

Wilfred Ndidi

It's no surprise that Leicester's dip in form towards the start of 2020 coincided with Wilfred Ndidi's time on the sidelines. The Foxes lack grit and defensive rigidity without the Nigerian international, who has established himself as arguably Leicester's most important player in recent times - along with Jamie Vardy.

Not only does Rodgers need cover for Ndidi, but the Leicester boss could also lose star midfielder James Maddison, with the Foxes braced for a potential bidding war this summer. 

The absence of one or both of these key men could be disastrous for the Foxes, who desperately need to bolster their midfield this summer in any case due to the extra workload of ​Champions League football.

Suggested Options:

Adam Lallana

It looks almost an inevitability that Leicester will pick up Liverpool's Adam Lallana on a free transfer come the end of the season, but while it's a risk-free signing for Rodgers, the 31-year-old's injury-prone nature could cause some problems further down the line.

Another former ​Liverpool man - Philippe Coutinho - has been linked with what would be a remarkable reunion with Rodgers, however a deal for the Brazilian still looks somewhat unlikely.

Perhaps a more realistic target is Real Betis midfielder William Carvalho, who Leicester are said to be interested in bringing to England this summer. The 28-year-old would provide great competition and cover for Ndidi, while also not breaking the bank.


Winger

Demarai Gray,Wes Harding

​It's fair to say that the Foxes have never really replaced ​Riyad Mahrez following his belated departure, though admittedly that's an incredibly challenging thing to do.

Harvey Barnes has had a great season with Leicester but consistency has been something of an issue for the winger, while £30m summer signing Ayoze Perez hasn't quite lived up to that price tag with seven goals and five assists.

Marc Albrighton is now 30 and being used increasingly sparingly, while Demarai Gray has struggled for game time since Rodgers' arrival.

Suggested Options:

Emi Buendia

The versatile Emiliano Buendia has impressed for Norwich this season, despite having more often than not found himself on the losing side, while Canaries teammate Todd Cantwell has also been a revelation this term - although both players are perhaps not suited to hogging the touchlines.

Acquiring the services of Burnley's Dwight McNeil would also be an impressive coup, while Bournemouth's pacy Scottish winger Ryan Fraser could be available for free this summer.

A left-field choice would be AZ Alkmaar's Oussama Idrissi, whose tally of 27 combined goals and assists in all competitions for the Dutch side this season has raised a few eyebrows across Europe. The Moroccan international would likely be better value for money than the majority of the aforementioned wide men.


Striker

FBL-ENG-PR-LEICESTER-ASTON VILLA

​At 33, the Premier League's top scorer Vardy needs a little help up top. Despite still boasting blistering speed and a clinical finish, the Englishman may not be able to handle next season's added European workload alone.

One man who looked as if he was going to ease the burden on ​Vardy this term was Kelechi Iheanacho, but the inconsistency of the former Man City forward has proved frustrating for Rodgers.

As a result, the Foxes are in real need of another goal-getter this summer, with Islam Slimani set to leave the club when he returns from his loan spell at Monaco.

Suggested Options:

Odsonne Edouard

Considering how many of the transfer targets on this list have previously worked with Rodgers, we thought we'd chuck Odsonne Edouard into the mix. The Celtic forward has a combined 46 goals and assists this season in all competitions, having played just 45 matches, and will likely be linked with a move to the King Power this summer as he looks to further his career.

However, should we cross the city of Glasgow, we'd find Rangers' Alfredo Morelos. Considering the Premier League has been without Luis Suarez and Diego Costa for some time, why not bring in another clinical, powerful, sh**house of a centre-forward?

As Norwich's squad is likely to be decimated this summer, it might as well be Leicester who do it. Despite having fallen away somewhat since the beginning of the season, Teemu Pukki would still be a great bench-warmer for the Foxes, and will likely find some route back to the Premier League if (or when for you pessimists) Norwich get relegated.



Source : 90min