Leicester predictions 2024/25: Premier League finish, top goalscorer and season preview

It's hard to feel overly optimistic about Leicester City heading into the 2024/25 campaign.

Having endured a shocking relegation in 2023, the first stage of the club's rebuild under Enzo Maresca went smoothly. The Italian completed the task assigned to him of returning the Foxes to the Premier League, but the Pep Guardiola disciple won't be there to oversee Leicester's top-flight comeback after Chelsea swooped in the wake of Mauricio Pochettino's exit.

Steve Cooper was confirmed as Maresca's successor to a mixed reception at best, and an unconvincing pre-season means very few are bullish over Leicester's chances upon their Premier League return.

Here's 90min's season preview of Leicester's 2024/25 campaign.

Leicester's performance in the last five seasons

The Foxes were competing for top four berths under Brendan Rodgers and claiming pieces of silverware such as the FA Cup in 2021. Their decline was sudden.

After finishing 5th in back-to-back Premier League seasons between 2019 and 2021, Leicester endured a minor blip in 2021/22, finishing 8th, before slumping all the way to the second tier the following season.

However, Leicester are back in the big time at the first time of asking, but a season akin to 2022/23 is more likely than 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Leicester 2024/25 squad numbers

Leicester haven't exactly set the world alight in the transfer market, and there's certainly work to be done before the window slams shut. As it stands, none of their new arrivals, including Bobby De Cordova-Reid from Fulham, have been assigned shirt numbers for the 2024/25 season.

Jamie Vardy remains the club's #9, while Abdul Fatawu, who spent last season on loan at the King Power before joining permanently at the start of the summer, will retain his #7 shirt.

*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

Leicester summer transfers

In

Out

Leicester 2024/25 kits

Home kit

Away kit

Leicester predicted top goalscorer

The Red Bull guzzler is still going at the ripe old age of 37. Jamie Vardy, an all-time Leicester great, played a key role in the club's title-winning season last time out with 20 goals in all competitions.

Can Cooper and Leicester really rely on the veteran in the Premier League? Well, it looks like they're going to have to. Vardy may no longer have an electric spring in his step, but he certainly still knows where the goal is and he's comfortable at this level. He's not going to come close to notching 20 goals, but he may well end the season as Leicester's leading marksman given the lack of alternatives.

Patson Daka is yet to prove himself at the King Power, Bobby De Cordova Reid is no frequent goalscorer, while last season's Player of the Year, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall has joined Maresca in west London.

Exciting wing tandem Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu will be crucial to Leicester's survival hopes, but neither player is tried and tested in the Premier League. There are high expectations for both, though.

Leicester predicted Premier League finish

It's not looking particularly good for Leicester, but the Foxes are a club synonymous with overcoming the odds.

Cooper's pragmatism should serve Leicester well, and he'll enjoy unleashing the talents of Mavididi and Fatawu out wide. However, they do not have the personnel in defence nor the protectors in midfield to excel as a counter-attacking unit.

Leicester are in a worse position now compared to 12 months ago, and survival is a tough ask. They won't go down without a fight, but a return to the second tier beckons.

Leicester 2024/25 Premier League prediction - 18th

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