We are at the business end of the Championship season and with the East Midlands outfit still in a battle with Ipswich Town, Leeds United, and Southampton, attentions will be turning to a potential Premier League campaign next season and there is no doubt the recruitment team will be looking ahead, regardless of the division they are in.
But with money likely to be hard up due to their financial worries, there is one type of signing Foxes fans will be hoping they make.
Why Leicester need to repeat their former business with Aston Villa
Financial discourse continues to surround Leicester City at the moment, thanks to their issues over spending in recent years.
The latest news surrounding the Foxes is that they will not face punishment for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, with concern coming from both the Premier League and Championship over their financial position.
There are concerns that, like Everton with their six-point deduction, Leicester will suffer the same fate and as such, it’s increasingly likely that they will curb the need to spend in the transfer market, which may impact recruitment.
But looking to the past may offer Leicester hope.
The signing of Marc Albrighton on a free transfer from Aston Villa back in 2014 turned out to be a masterstroke, with the winger still at the club and having appeared in over 300 games for the Foxes.
His hard-working yet skilful nature proved pivotal in their 2015-16 Premier League title win – and having only just come up from the second-tier when they signed him, the Foxes could be looking to bring a similar player in if they are to undergo a similar survival path next season.
How Marc Albrighton shaped Leicester City’s Premier League winning side
One of the key components that Leicester had going for them in their miraculous 2015-16 campaign was that the crux of their starting 11 were barely injured.
Whilst Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante and Jamie Vardy took the plaudits going forward and Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Robert Huth formed a solid base to work from, it was the hard work of Albrighton and Shinji Okazaki that went so massively under the radar – yet without them, Leicester wouldn’t have gone on to achieve greatness.
Nine players featured in over 35 games in the league alone, and Albrighton was one of just two outfield players who starred in every game alone – which was key to Leicester finding that consistency that drove them on to the title.
It’s that consistency that will be needed next season in the Premier League should they go up; much like Luton Town this season, a sustainability to their squad will be needed – and for players on a free transfer, somebody like Albrighton of yesteryear should be sought after.
Who Leicester City could sign on free transfers
There aren’t many players out of contract in the summer who can offer similar to what Marc Albrighton did upon their promotion back in 2014, though there are a few options.
One initial player who fits the bill is perhaps Leandro Barreiro.
The Mainz midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and with the club looking set for at least a relegation-play off as they sit second-bottom behind Koln, Barreiro may weigh up his options for now – especially if they go down.
The Luxembourg-born star has featured in over 125 games for Mainz having joined the club as a 16-year-old, and at the age of just 24 he has a huge future ahead of him.
