How Leicester’s Loaned Out Players Will Get on When They Return to the King Power Stadium - Ranked
By Ross Jackson
Leicester City are doing their best impression of one of the Premier League’s big boys, and in fairness to them, they’re making a pretty good fist of it.
However, with the club heightening their season’s expectations every year like a Football Manager novice, there are some players who have become surplus to requirements and have been sent out on loan.
But never fear loanees - all may not be lost. The Foxes’ current starting XI is testament to the fact that there is a way back having been temporarily shipped out, with regulars Ben Chilwell and Harvey Barnes both experiencing loanee life at one point in their Leicester careers.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of all Leicester’s current loaned out players and ranked whether we believe they’ve got a future at the club.
6. Andy King
Once an integral part of the Leicester midfield, picking up a Premier League winner’s medal in his time at the club. However, King’s time at the King Power is over.
The goal scoring midfielder, like so many before him, appears to have Cameron Jerome-syndrome (awesome in the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League).
At 31 his best days are behind him and he’s now back in England’s second tier with Huddersfield Town. Could probably do a job as a squad player for a lower Premier League side but certainly not of the calibre Leicester are looking for.
Likelihood of making it at Leicester: 0/10
5. Adrien Silva
Ah the Adrien Silva saga.
Life at Leicester got off to a rocky start for Silva after the documents confirming his transfer from Sporting CP didn’t make their way to FIFA on time (missing out by a whole 14 seconds).
The Portugal midfielder found himself in limbo for five months, waiting for the transfer window to re-open, but to be honest he hasn’t played much more for Leicester since officially signing than he did in those five months.
Arguably Silva’s greatest achievement in a Leicester shirt has been acting as a bartering tool in the Youri Tielemans deal.
With Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison, Hamza Choudhury and Dennis Praet all ahead of him in central midfield pecking order, Silva’s time at Leicester seems to be up. A transfer to current temporary club Monaco looks far more likely than a King Power renaissance.
Likelihood of making it at Leicester: 2/10
4. Fousseni Diabaté
Diabaté failed to really make an impression at Leicester.
Plucked from Ligue 2 for just shy of £2m in 2018 (presumably with another N'Golo Kanté-style bargain ringing in the Leicester hierarchy’s ears). Diabaté was afforded time to settle into the side by former boss Claude Puel, but the arrival of Brendan Rodgers soon saw him on his way.
The 24-year-old currently finds himself at Amiens in Ligue 1. With competition for places in his position including Ayoze Pérez, Harvey Barnes, Demarai Gray and Mark Albrighton, a King Power departure looks likely.
Likelihood of making it at Leicester: 2/10
3. Rachid Ghezzal
Wide forward Ghezzal has a very similar problem to Diabaté.
Not fancied by Rodgers and would struggle to break into the side given the competition. The 27-year-old has struggled to make an impact in an under-performing Fiorentina side this season, failing to register a single goal or assist all campaign.
With Rodgers’ opting for a 4-3-3 system which includes goal scoring wide men, the Algeria international’s 18 career goals don’t stand him in good stead.
Likelihood of making it at Leicester: 2/10
2.Islam Slimani
The Foxes’ big money signing the summer after they won the Premier League.
Slimani struggled to settle at Leicester and hadn’t done much better after being shipped out on loan for two years prior to this season. The Algerian mustered just a single goal in his two seasons away from the King Power, at Newcastle and Fenerbahçe respectively.
However, having been sent out on loan yet again this season, Slimani has notched nine times in 18 games for Monaco this season.
The big man’s form this year has probably added a few quid to his price tag, but he’s unlikely to make it in a Rodgers’ system. The former Liverpool boss has never played with a big man up top (Andy Carroll will tell you as much), so even with Jamie Vardy the grand age of 33, it’s unlikely he’ll be replaced by Slimani.
That being side, his form and price tag may give Rodgers food for thought.
Likelihood of making it at Leicester: 3/10
1. Filip Benković
Not managed to break into the Bristol City team this season with Tomas Kalas, Nathan Baker and Ashley Williams all ahead of him in the pecking order.
However, the 22-year-old has time on his side. Leicester paid £13m for the centre-back in 2018 and they have been known to allow players of his ilk time to settle – Turkish star Çağlar Söyüncü broke into the Leicester starting XI this campaign, having barely been a fringe player the previous year, so all is not lost for Benković.
With Wes Morgan now 36 years old and centre-back cover pretty sparse, it may well be that we see a lot more of the Croatian international next season.
Likelihood of making it at Leicester: 5/10