https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14918073/Leicester-City-transfer-briefing-Marti-Cifuentes-Bilal-El-Khannouss.html
Who does Marti Cifuentes want to keep?
The Spaniard has an impressive track record of working with young players and will try to build his Leicester team around the best of them, like Ben Nelson, Kasey McAteer and – of course – 16-year-old Jeremy Monga.
Cifuentes is also excited to work with Abdul Fatawu, who sustained a serious knee injury last autumn just when he was finding his stride in the Premier League.
He will also look closely at Jake Evans, who made his debut in the Premier League, and Louis Page, who has looked sharp in the early part of pre-season.
He will need some experience, too, though who Leicester keep is not entirely in his control, as the club need to sell to generate transfer funds.
A word on Page: the 17-year-old has two years of a scholar’s contract to run and Leicester are relaxed about the situation. Keeping Monga is easily the brightest news of a dire year for the club, and proves they are prepared to give a chance to youngsters.
There are transfer priorities, though they will not be easy to realise, with Leicester targeting a striker, a left-sided midfielder and a No6, as well as a goalkeeper if Mads Hermansen departs.
What will happen with Bilal El Khannouss?
The Moroccan was one of Leicester’s most eye-catching players last term and despite the club’s relegation, he did enough to generate top-flight interest in signing him.
The fee is the sticking point, however: Leicester paid about £20m for the 21-year-old and would want a substantial return on their investment if he is to be sold. Mail Sport understands no club has proposed anything close to the Foxes’ valuation.
One option to be considered is a year’s loan with an obligation to buy. El Khannouss signed a four-year deal, meaning his ‘book value’ is now about £15m.
If he played well on loan in the Premier League for a season, his price would increase greatly in 12 months’ time, and a reduced book value would generate higher profit.
Who else could leave?
Mail Sport can reveal that Leicester have yet to receive a firm bid for Wilfred Ndidi, even though there have been enquiries for the Nigeria midfielder.
But the 28-year-old would be allowed to depart, as would goalkeeper Hermansen. The Dane was courted by Chelsea last summer and an offer of about £40m was proposed, although never formally submitted.
Although Enzo Maresca is a huge fan of Hermansen and brought him to Leicester, Chelsea already have four goalkeepers and Robert Sanchez improved his standing with some strong displays at the Club World Cup.
The goalkeeper market is notoriously difficult: just ask Aston Villa, who have been prepared to sell Emi Martinez all summer but have yet to receive a serious bid.
Keep an eye on West Ham, though, who have just appointed Hermansen’s fellow Dane Casper Ankergren as goalkeeping coach. Victor Kristiansen, meanwhile, has interest in Serie A, where he helped Bologna reach the Champions League in 2023-24.
What about the high earners?
Unfortunately for Leicester, there is more surgery needed on the squad than simply making a couple of big sales.
Conor Coady was the subject of an approach from Rangers two weeks ago but that has yet to be followed up officially, and Coady was happy to travel to Austria for a pre-season training camp.
Yet Rangers’ interest remains and unless Cifuentes is counting on the former Wolves defender, that deal could still go ahead. Then there is Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks, Jordan Ayew, James Justin, Oliver Skipp, Bobby Decordova-Reid and others on substantial wages.
Earlier this summer, Vestergaard was thought to be willing to reach a settlement on the remaining two years of his contract, though such arrangements are easier said than done and the Dane has subsequently said he is open to staying.
So far, there has been scant interest in Justin, who looks a shadow of the player who was capped by England in June 2022.
