Leicester City notebook: Transfer route blocked, signing’s ACL tear, pre-season friendly

It looks like Daniel Iversen will have to find another route out of the King Power Stadium after Stoke opted to sign his old Leicester City Under-21 team-mate Viktor Johansson. Iversen has been on loan with the Potters for the second half of this season, but a return to the bet365 Stadium looks unlikely now that they have signed a new number one.

The numbers at the back of Iversen’s spell at Stoke looked decent, with the Dane keeping seven clean sheets in 18 league games, conceding just 22 goals. But the Potters were apparently not interested in making him a permanent number one, instead quickly bringing in Johansson from Rotherham, who has made a name for himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the second tier, despite being relegated with the Millers.

It wasn’t long ago that Iversen and Johansson were teammates at City. Johansson was snapped up from Aston Villa to play in goal for the Under-21s, allowing Iversen to leave on loan.

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Despite impressing at City, Johansson was let go after two years, heading to Rotherham on a free transfer. In four years there, his reputation grew and he even won his first cap in Sweden last year.

For Iversen, it’s now about finding a new home. Under Maresca, he has dropped from first-choice goalkeeper to fourth-choice and thus has no future for him at City. His position in the championship should be good enough for a team to take a look at him.

Summer signing tears ACL

One of City’s most promising prospects has confirmed he has torn his ACL. Seventeen-year-old Ryan Donnelly joined City from Dungannon Swifts in Northern Ireland last summer after making a name for himself in his native country.

The midfielder made his senior debut aged 16 and captained his country’s under-17s, catching the eye of City and earning a move to the King Power Stadium last summer. No player has played more games for the club’s under-18s than Donnelly this term, missing only the final league game of the season.

But he will now be out for a while after announcing that he has torn ligaments in his knee. It rules him out of representing Northern Ireland when they host the European Under-19 Championships this summer.

Donnelly wrote on social media: “This season has been a mix of ups and downs but unfortunately I got the news that I tore my ACL. I’ll make sure I come back stronger and I’ll give everything to get back on the field doing what I love the most.”

First preseason game announced

The first pre-season game of the summer has been announced for City, although an Under-21 side is likely to be involved. Coalville Town, who play in the seventh tier of English football and are the highest ranked county outside of City, will host a City XI on Tuesday, July 23.

Being a City XI, there are likely to be development squad players involved. It is 11 years since City sent a team to Coalville for a pre-season friendly, with the likes of Callum Elder, Marko Futacs and Joe Dodoo involved in a 3-1 defeat in 2013.

City’s unwanted record broken by Sheffield United

City owe thanks to Pedro Porro after he scored the second of Tottenham’s three goals at Sheffield United on the final day of the season. That finish was the Blades’ 103rd goal of the campaign, eclipsing City’s record for the worst defense in a 38-game top-flight season.

In 1909, City conceded 102 goals, but Sheffield United’s woes this season mean they are the new record holders with 104. The worst ever defense in a top-flight campaign remains Ipswich Town in 1964, as they conceded 121 goals, but over 42 equipment.

Academy graduate leads Oxford back to Championship

Congratulations are in order for City Academy graduate Elliott Moore. Although he never got the chance in a competitive game for his boyhood club, despite impressing in pre-season outings, he has had a fine career topped off by this weekend’s glory at Wembley.

After scoring in the play-off semi-finals to send Oxford into the main game, Moore led the USA to a 2–0 victory over Bolton to take them to the championship. Next season will be their first in the second tier for 25 years.

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