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Leicester transfer: Investor in infrastructure to close the gap with the ‘group of 6 big boys’ in the long term | Football news


Leicester City remain the only Premier League club yet to sign a new player this transfer window.

Even more worrying for supporters is the fact that some of their biggest stars – Wesley Fofana, James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Harvey Barnes – are being targeted by some of the Premier League’s richest clubs.

So what’s the problem? The club is in financial difficulty? Has Leicester lost its ambition? Are they a sales club now?

The answer to all those questions is ‘no’. It is all part of a steadfast plan that, while unpopular with many Leicester fans, fits into their long-term strategy.

Let’s deal with possible ‘going out’ first. Leicester fans can understand the sadness at the prospect of losing one (or more) of their crown jewels – especially with no sign of new blood.

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Watch for FREE: Highlights from Leicester’s 2-2 draw with Brentford in the Premier League.

Keeping in mind they have lost a favorite in Kasper Schmeichel, there is no similar prospect of a replacement.

But so far, aside from Schmeichel (who has been featured for his outstanding service to the club), the owners have turned down any offers to buy one of their best players. . Chelsea’s second bid for Fofana is more than double what Leicester paid St Etienne for him less than two years ago.

To sell now seems like sensible business, no? Double your money in just over 18 months? Not if, like Leicester, you believe Fofana’s value will grow even more after another season or two in the Premier League.

That’s why they’re so reluctant to sell now – unless Chelsea really prepare to go big (and possibly eclipse the world-record fee Manchester United have paid). Leicester for Harry Maguire).

Leicester’s approach could be harder to maintain if Fofana himself wants to leave. His cryptic message on Instagram, saying he will upset a lot of people if he does “what’s best for him” has been interpreted as his support of a move to Stamford Bridge.

But I understand that, despite his ambition, he is happy at Leicester – hence he signed a contract extension just five months ago. And it’s hard to see a player of the Fofana character on strike or agitated make a move like Riyad Mahrez did in 2018.

Wesley Fofana celebrates after scoring for Leicester against Rennes
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Wesley Fofana is Chelsea’s transfer target

Leicester’s success in recent years has been to sell one of their best players for a top dollar and reinvest that money wisely. Look at the departures of Mahrez, N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell and Maguire.

If they want to sell any of their superstars now, that will only happen if the buying club is willing to pay a premium. While the pandemic hit King Power very hard as an international tax-free business, Leicester City did not face any financial difficulties.

So no player will be sold for cheap. And finally, I have been told privately, that the Leicester bosses have found Newcastle’s offer for Maddison in an attack.

Furthermore, the price of each of those stars is increasing day by day: a buying club will have to pay more for Youri Tielemans in the final week of the window than it is now as Leicester will then have very little time to do so. reinvest that money in a replacement.

Another key point to make is the harsh reality: Leicester cannot compete financially with the ‘Big 6’. Currently, no one (maybe even Liverpool) can compete with Manchester City and Chelsea, in terms of financial influence.

Leicester plan to start working on that – but it will take years. Maybe decades.

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Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers praised his team’s first-half performance in the 2-2 draw against Brentford, adding that it was a game they should have won.

At a cost of £100m, they have built a dazzling new training ground, which opens at Christmas and is, according to many, as good as any other club facility in world football.

It’s money that can be spent on the team. But Leicester bosses feel it is more important to build something more permanent. Something that will help attract future world-class signings and help further develop the homegrown talent that has served Leicester so well (e.g. Barnes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Luke Thomas).

Nearly a year ago, they revealed plans to build a new 220-room hotel, an events and entertainment venue, and plans to expand King Power Stadium by 8,000 seats to a total. number 40,000 seats.

Ambitious things. But – and here’s the rub – when completed, the stadium will still be just over half the size of Old Trafford.

At the time, in August 2021, the club’s announcement read: “To continue to compete in the Premier League… .. requires a disciplined, sustainable and innovative business model… And that statement perhaps best sums up Leicester’s approach. To compete on the pitch with the best in the Premier League, you have to get closer to competing with them off the pitch.

Leicester's King Power Stadium
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Leicester’s owners are investing in the King Power Stadium and the club’s training ground

So it was a conscious plan to invest more of the club’s finances in the club’s infrastructure, rather than the first team. Tottenham did the same thing – and was similarly criticized – when they built their enchanting Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But this is not the only reason why Leicester have been silent in the transfer market this summer. There To be money for Brendan Rodgers to strengthen the squad, in addition to all the investments in buildings. But before any of that money is spent on new players, there must be determination that the squad must be cut.

Leicester’s XI is strong, as evidenced by the line-up Rodgers chose for his season opener against Brentford on Sunday, even without Barnes and the injured Ricardo. But they don’t have the quality depth in the broader lineup the ‘Big 6’ enjoys.

And yet, Leicester have plenty of big money ‘senior experts’ who are not part of Rodgers’ future plans. Look at the likes of Caglar Soyuncu, Ryan Bertrand, Jannik Vestergaard, Ayoze Perez, Dennis Praet and Hamza Choudhury – three of whom were not even in Sunday’s squad and watched from the stands. .

Ricardo Pereira will be sidelined with injury for six months
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Ricardo Pereira sidelined with another long-term injury

It’s hard to keep those players happy, if they’re not playing. And unhappy players can affect the unity and positivity of the whole team – traits that helped Leicester win the Premier League six years ago and the FA Cup in 2021 so well.

And remember, this season Leicester do not have a place in Europe as some players in this squad could be eliminated.

The very clear strategy is to get as many ‘unwanted’ players as possible with their wages deducted as soon as possible, before even thinking about replacing them with new faces.

Looking for Good Value Improvements

Another problem is that Leicester just want to buy players with better quality, if not better than players who are just starting at the age of 11. And they are both hard to find and expensive.

More than that, players of the kind of quality Leicester are interested in will want guaranteed football. Who’s about to sit on the bench at King Power Stadium, when you can make more money, sit on the bench at Emirates or St James’ Park?

Add to that the fact that Leicester suffered too many injuries last season. Vardy, Fofana, Wilfred Ndidi, Jonny Evans, Ricardo, James Justin, Timothy Castagne, Barnes, Maddison and Soyuncu all had long periods on the sidelines. This means that players that may have gone on sale earlier are still on the books.

Quite simply, Leicester needed the numbers last season. They are not in this season.

The Key to Patience

So in a nutshell: Leicester bosses hope supporters can be patient. That the manager – extremely ambitious and covetous like him – can also be patient and still buy ‘the Leicester way’. Rodgers, of course, wants more money for the players. But he understands and respects the Leicester model.

There is little doubt that – while Leicester’s squad has remained stationary – the clubs they are competing against in the top half of the Premier League have progressed and grown stronger.

James Maddison is another Leicester player attracting interest from other clubs
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James Maddison is another Leicester player attracting interest from other clubs

Fan anxiety is predictable and completely understandable. And the draw at home to Brentford on the opening day did not raise expectations.

But it is a stark reality that, with the spending of the likes of Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs – and almost certainly Manchester United at the end of the term – Leicester could spend £150m on the Premier League. This summer and still no more likely than now they break the top six.

It’s hard to explain that to Leicester’s paying public, who understandably want to see their squad strengthen year after year, with exciting, quality (expensive) new additions.

Leicester owners must hope that their supporters understand and trust them that the smart management and strategy that have brought Leicester to their position will also hold them firmly in the future.

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