The futures of Jamie Vardy, Jannik Vestergaard, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Dennis Praet and Marc Albrighton debated with their contracts expiring at the end of next month
Before Enzo Maresca, Jon Rudkin and the recruitment team can put their heads together on transfers and how Leicester City’s business looks in the summer window, they need to decide what’s happening with the out-of-contract players.
Without knowing which of the sextet are sticking around for the new campaign, they can’t set about building a squad. But what should City do for each of the players?
Here, our writers Amie Wilson, Josh Holland, and Jordan Blackwell give their thoughts on each out-of-contract player’s future and the decision they would make if they were in charge at the club. You can let us know your thoughts on each player in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Jamie Vardy
AW: This is the easiest decision of all of the out-of-contract players. Even at 37 years old Vardy can still have an impact on the Premier League.
Even if he is not first choice, his impact on the dressing room is enough to keep the club legend around for at least another year, calling the players’ meeting during the side’s dip in form may have helped City get over the line. He’s proven this season as well that he can still have a big impact on the pitch.
JH: Like every single Leicester fan would say, this is a no-brainer. Vardy showed last season, certainly in the second half of the campaign, that he possesses the quality to play and has evolved into a different sort of striker to the one that ended the 2022-23 season. He’s more suited to Enzo Maresca’s style and his influence off the pitch is enormous. He may not have the legs to be the main striker – I don’t think he should be – but having him as an option is a must.
JB: I wouldn’t usually advocate offering deals for emotional reasons but six months ago, I’d have said Vardy needed a new one-year contract on the basis that it would have been deflating for the fanbase to see their team get promoted but their star striker, and the best player in the club’s history, left behind. Thankfully, it’s now not needed on those terms.
From February onwards, after recovering from the injury that kept him out in December and January, Vardy scored 12 goals at a rate of one every 73 minutes to take his tally for the season to 20. That’s a clear sign that, even at 37 years of age, he can perform in Maresca’s system.
Jannik Vestergaard
AW: I can’t remember a player who has turned his career at Leicester around as much as Vestergaard has in the past season. He was among the contenders for player of the year such were his performances in backline, having taken the chance with both hands after Conor Coady’s injury in pre-season.
While his previous time with City in the Premier League was one to forget, I think the style under Maresca does protect his lack of speed more. His passing from the backline has been key this season, and while he may not be first choice next season, he’s definitely worth keeping around.
JH: The way the centre-back has revived his career in LE2 is nothing short of spectacular. Brendan Rodgers wasn’t a fan but under Maresca, he has proved his class. He hasn’t won over some supporters but he’s clearly an integral part of this team. I’m not entirely sure he’s going to be good enough to play weekly in the Premier League but his performances in the last 12 months mean he warrants having his contract extended.
JB: Vestergaard has been such a crucial player this season, one who really understands Maresca’s gameplan and his role in it, while having the ability to make it work too with his passing through the lines. So it should be straightforward.
But there are always going to be doubts about his pace in the Premier League and how top-level strikers may exploit that. In the Championship, his positioning and reading of the game helped him quell the danger at source, and yet there were enough moments where he was caught out that he ended the season with 13 yellow cards, the third-highest number in the Championship.
On balance, he probably is worthy of a new contract. But against Premier League opposition, he’ll need to play how he did against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, and not how he did against Chelsea, if he’s to keep his place in the team.
Wilfred Ndidi
AW: Ndidi is still adapting to his more attacking role under Maresca. He has been a key player in recent seasons, but while his impact wasn’t quite as big as it has been, there were some times this season where City did feel his absence during his injuries.
It will be interesting to see how he adapts to his new role in the Premier League next season where he probably will be given more space to operate. For that reason, I’d like to see him stay.
JH: I’m torn on Ndidi. What he has done for Leicester since joining in 2017 has been heroic and his adaptability to play in a more advanced role has been class. Maresca hinted that he could be used in a more defensive manner next season but the wages could be a big problem. He’s been colossal for City for many years but sometimes it may be best to cut ties and move on.
JB: I don’t think Maresca sees Ndidi as a Premier League-level attacking midfielder, so if he’s going to stick around, he will either need a new role, or he will have to be a back-up in the advanced midfield area. Maresca has already suggested he could be used in a defensive position.
But he is malleable, he does have lots of excellent physical attributes that can be put to good use, and he’s still a good age. So on that basis, I think he just about merits a new deal. But I wouldn’t be devastated if he did go.
Kelechi Iheanacho
AW: This is probably the most difficult of all of the decisions for me. I have always been an Iheanacho fan, but think now is probably the time to part ways. Having fallen down to fourth choice under Maresca, it will get one high earner off the books with an eye on the financial situation.
Iheanacho is a goalscorer but is very hit-and-miss in terms of performances. He probably needs regular game time to play himself into the form that we’ve seen previously, that’s not something that City can afford to give him in the new season.
JH: I was a huge Iheanacho fan at the start of the season and thought his persona really connected with the fanbase. However, I’m not entirely sure he covered himself in glory in the Championship.
Another player, like Ndidi, who is likely to be let go due to the financial situation. His t-shirt on the final day pointed towards a decision that had already been made and it’ll be a sad day when his exit is confirmed, especially after his key part in the FA Cup win.
JB: Looking at Iheanacho’s goals and assists record in the Premier League, how he plays when he’s at his best, and how he offers something different to City’s other options up front, it feels like it should be an easy decision to give him a new deal. In most scenarios, I would want him in the Premier League squad.
However, he’s not pulled up trees this season and he’s not started under Maresca since December. If the manager doesn’t fancy him, there’s no point keeping him around, especially when there’s money to be spent on wages elsewhere. It’s a shame, because if he’s under contract, then he’s a valuable player who could be sold for a fair amount. I just hope he doesn’t go to Aston Villa.
Dennis Praet
AW:Given his comments in the last few days, Praet looks to be another player leaving at the end of his contract. The midfielder has been a solid performer whenever called upon but never really got a chance to establish himself in the side.
His season was disrupted by injury meaning he never got a long run of games. That’s been the story of his Leicester career. A move back to Italy is probably the most likely destination after impressing on loan with Torino a couple of seasons ago.
JH: I’m surprised Praet is still a Leicester player. He has never been a nailed-on starter since joining in 2019 and after his loan with Torino, I thought he’d left before now. He has been okay when called upon but we never really got to see the best of him throughout his time. He’s one of those players who are simply better suited to European football and he’s always tried his hardest so he’ll go with my best wishes.
JB: It’s time for Praet and the club to part ways. It should probably have happened a couple of years ago, when did well on loan in Italy and wanted to go back there. Praet has had good mini-spells in the team where he’s looked technically proficient and helped those around him to look better. But he just doesn’t have the cutting edge up top.
Marc Albrighton
AW: It is fairly clear that Albrighton has played his final game in a Leicester shirt. And he got the send-off he deserves, with the reception when coming on as a substitute against Blackburn and at the trophy parade at the clock tower.
There’s been a lack of game-time this season, and that’s not going to increase in the Premier League. It’s not clear what his next step is yet, but I wouldn’t be against offering him a coaching or off-the-pitch role if he does decide to hang up his boots.
JH: Albrighton got the send-off he deserves after years of service. After admitting he was 99.9 per cent sure he had played his final game, he will go down in Leicester history for everything he has done since 2014.
A legendary, old-school winger who has seen it all. He showed in his short stint on the field on the final day of the season that he still possesses that dangerous whipped cross so he’ll be a valuable signing for whoever is lucky enough to sign him
JB: Albrighton’s wing play and his connection with Vardy were probably underused this season. But without starting a single game in the Championship, it makes no sense to keep him around in the Premier League. He’s said his farewell and hopefully now he’ll find a club that can make the most of his qualities.
