After Wilfred Ndidi’s departure, Leicester City are now looking to bring in Steve Cooper as an £8m replacement for next season. This move comes as a potential bright spot for the Foxes amidst a challenging summer, which saw manager Enzo Maresca and star player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leave for Chelsea. While Cooper has filled the managerial vacancy left by Maresca, Leicester still need to find a successor capable of matching Dewsbury-Hall’s talent.
With potential Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions looming, the challenges ahead at the King Power Stadium next season are expected to intensify, underscoring the critical importance of their summer transfer activities. The key focus will be on replacing key players, not just Dewsbury-Hall, as Ndidi’s departure has also created a significant void in Leicester’s midfield.
Ndidi’s absence would have brought invaluable Premier League experience and quality to Cooper’s midfield next season. However, the new manager must now explore alternative options, which could potentially lead to the arrival of a talented midfielder from Ligue 1.
According to L’Equipe, Leicester City, Everton, and Udinese are all considering a move to acquire Amir Richardson from Stade Reims. However, none of these clubs are currently willing to meet Stade Reims’ reported €10 million (£8 million) asking price for the player.
Leicester and Everton both need to be cautious with their expenditures currently. However, at just £8 million, pursuing Amir Richardson could prove to be a prudent move for the Foxes as they seek to fill the void left by Ndidi. At 22 years old, Richardson has the potential to elevate his game significantly with this opportunity, making it a potentially valuable investment for Leicester this summer.
“Unique” Richardson has been identified as a potential successor to fill the void left by Ndidi at Leicester. While replacing a midfielder of Ndidi’s caliber is a daunting task, football writer Bence Bocsak has expressed confidence in Richardson’s ability to step up for Leicester next season.
In an earlier assessment on X, Bocsak lauded Richardson, highlighting his standout qualities: “He’s already won the U23 AFCON with Morocco last year. Such a unique profile in terms of a midfielder – extremely tall at 1.95 meters and agile – he excels in both defensive duties and advancing with the ball. He possesses excellent ball control skills. Just 21 years old.”
Comparative statistics for the 2023/24 season (via FBref) illustrate Richardson’s promising performance:
– Amir Richardson:
– Minutes: 1,352
– Progressive Carries per 90: 1.87
– Progressive Passes per 90: 4.80
– Ball Recoveries per 90: 5.73
– Wilfred Ndidi:
– Minutes: 2,127
– Progressive Carries per 90: 1.74
– Progressive Passes per 90: 4.32
– Ball Recoveries per 90: 4.41
These stats suggest Richardson has shown comparable or even superior performance in some key metrics compared to Ndidi during the 2023/24 season, underlining his potential to effectively contribute to Leicester’s midfield.
Despite receiving fewer minutes than Ndidi last season, Richardson demonstrated his capabilities effectively in a limited sample size, surpassing Ndidi in several performance metrics.
Considering Leicester’s concerns regarding Financial Fair Play (FFP), pursuing Richardson this summer in a deal potentially costing just £8 million could be a strategic move to kickstart their transfer window. The young midfielder has shown promising potential and indications that he is a player worth keeping an eye on.
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