Nelson and Szmodics transfers, Sara signings, five exits – Leicester City’s 25-man dream squad

Steve Cooper has been working hard to improve Leicester City’s squad ahead of their return to the Premier League. Four players have already been signed and more business is sure to follow.

Fan favorite Abdul Fatawu has made his loan move from Sporting CP permanent after promotion from the Championship. Jamaican international Bobby De Cordova-Reid signed on a free from Fulham and centre-back Caleb Okoli, 22, joined from Atalanta.

As part of the deal that saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall move to Chelsea, Michael Goulding came in reverse. But with three weeks to go until the start of the Premier League campaign with a home clash on August 19 against Tottenham (8pm), a number of positions still require attention.

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The injury to backup goaltender Jakub Stolarczyk means only one of Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen could go. Field positions need more additions, especially in attack.

With all that in mind, Leicestershire live looked at what Leicester’s 25-man Premier League squad could look like in a dream scenario at Seagrave.

The rules for selecting teams in the Premier League are set for all 20 teams. Players under the age of 21 (born on or after January 1, 2003) do not need to be registered in the team and can be used freely. There are no homegrown player quotes as there are in European competitions, but there is a limit on non-homegrown players.

Premier League teams can name 17 non-local players in the squad. This rule does not only apply to non-English players, with individuals who have been at an affiliated Football Association club for three seasons before turning 21. In City’s last Premier League campaign, the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Souttar and Ward were classed as homegrown players.

Goalkeepers: Mads Hermansen, Jakub Stolarczyk, Danny Ward

Fortunately for Cooper, there are several positions that don’t require reinforcements. The goalkeeper is one of them thanks to the £6m signing of Hermansen last July. His shot-stopping ability and elegant ball-handling skills make him a valuable option.

Stolarczyk’s injury means Cooper has to decide on the number two. Ward was that man when Kasper Schmeichel was at the club and his £50,000-a-week wages will prove to be a stumbling block for any interested parties should he leave.

Daniel Iversen, 27, spent last season on loan and would attract more suitors than the Welshman at a better price.

Defenders: Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Okoli, Coady, Spence, Justin, Thomas, Kristiansen

Basing this squad selection on Cooper’s tactics in pre-season friendlies with Shrewsbury Town and Palermo, Leicester are well stocked in defence. Harry Souttar and Ben Nelson need loan spells in the Championship for different reasons following the arrival of Caleb Okoli.

The Italian, alongside Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady, gives Cooper four options for two positions. The perfect formula. At full-back, they find themselves in a similar boat, but there is reason to think at left-back.

James Justin’s versatility makes him a superb asset at both right back and left back. The long-term future of Luke Thomas is unclear, with question marks over his ability to play in the Premier League, as is that of Victor Kristiansen, who spent last season helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League.

Cooper attacked more at right-back against Shrewsbury and left-back against Palermo, meaning there is an option for both. The latter has seen Fatawu revert to his preferred right wing, meaning Kristiansen is the perfect player to do the job on the left.

If not, Pereira and Justin are the two players for right back. However – and it’s a big but – the pair have struggled with hamstring problems in the past. A new right back would be the smart way to go and a Djed Spence reunion for Cooper would solve that.

The Tottenham defender played under Ange Postecoglou in pre-season but Pedro Porro is ahead of him in the pecking order. He has spent the last season and a half on loan and another temporary exit makes sense.

Middlemen: Ndidi, Winks, Choudhury, Soumare, Sara, Golding, Nelson, Fatawu, Mavididi, McAteer

Ndidi and Winks will likely be Cooper’s first choice this season. Hamza Choudhury continues to be a reliable option at right-back or in the middle, and the arrival of Golding adds youth – although he may not yet be ready to play in the Premier League.

Boubakary Soumare is a difficult case. The French midfielder has shown signs of quality at times, but concerns about his work rate and decision-making are a concern. Not much interest has been reported for his services, but his quality is better preserved at the King Power Stadium.

Should Cooper turn to head of recruitment Martyn Glover for a new midfielder, Gabriel Sara would be a perfect fit. The Norwich City star is one of the Championship’s hottest prospects and is reportedly attracting interest from a number of clubs, including Leicester and Leeds.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder scored 14 times and produced 13 assists last season and would be the Dewsbury-Hall replacement that Cooper has already insisted he needs. After the defeat to Palermo, Cooper touched on the need for quality behind the striker in the transfer window.

Further forward, Leicester need more firepower. Matias Soule is out and certain to join AS Roma, meaning alternatives must be considered. Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson is a target and the Gunners would want between £15m and £20m, but his wages could become an issue.

Cooper’s early tactics suggest using a striker in the wide left number 10 role – played by Stephy Mavididi – meaning Leicester could attack with at least five players (right-back, right-winger, inside-left forward, left ). extreme and center forward).

Even last night, in a less complex 4-3-3, Leicester attacked with five players with the center forward, two inside, attacking midfielder and full-back overlapping. Kasey McAteer will fancy his chance to prove himself in the Premier League, but a loan move would be better for Wanya Marcal.

Forwards: Vardy, Szmodics, Daka, De Cordova-Reid

Now it’s time for the interesting part. Jamie Vardy is and will be City’s first choice striker. However, it would be remiss to hope that the 37-year-old can supplement Cooper’s pressing squad for 90 minutes all season.

Patson Daka was close to leaving last summer but has shown improvement in his overall game under Enzo Maresca. Do Leicester need three strikers? When you consider that the Leicester formation in a 4-4-2 in possession, maybe.

Tom Cannon is a popular figure among supporters, but he is still only 21 years old and has not played regular football for a year. Championship clubs are lining up for his signature and a temporary move would allow Cooper to add to his forward line.

Blackburn Rovers’ Sammie Szmodics is still a viable option. The 28-year-old is hot property after scoring 33 goals in the last term, but Leicester will need to act quickly. Leeds United and Ipswich Town are both showing interest, but the Foxes were linked with him earlier in the summer.

His energetic style of play would fit well with Cooper’s ideology. Playing as a center forward or shadow forward is his bread and butter, providing support in the center forward role and in the left attacking midfielder role.

De Cordova Reid, who could also fill Mavididi’s role, is also an option at centre-forward and out wide. His versatility is a key reason behind the positive reaction to his arrival.

In total, this Leicester side uses 24 of the 25 available with Fatawu and Golding under 21s. That would allow one more signing or space for one of the five players sold to remain at the club.

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