Enzo Maresca would be better off looking for a different number nine, rather than considering a move to Leicester City for Ben Brereton Diaz. Although Brereton Diaz has been linked with a loan move to Leicester, he shouldn’t be seen as competition for Jamie Vardy or a replacement for Kelechi Iheanacho.
During his time at Villareal, Brereton Diaz has struggled to make an impact, with only four starts in 12 appearances and no goals or assists. This is in stark contrast to his time at Blackburn Rovers, where he scored 47 goals in 177 appearances.
While Brereton Diaz can play off the left-hand side or as a centre-forward, Leicester should not consider him as a new ‘number nine’, as his best performances have come as a left-sided winger. However, with Vardy nearing the end of his career, the club should begin to assess their options ahead of the January transfer window.
This includes Iheanacho, whose contract is set to expire next summer and is attracting interest from other clubs. If he were to leave, Leicester would be misguided to bring in Brereton Diaz as a like-for-like replacement. However, with the potential signing of Brereton Diaz and another striker in January, Leicester could become an even more formidable force in the Championship.
Leicester currently sit at the top of the Championship, eight points ahead of third-placed Leeds United, after making an incredible start to their first season in the second tier since 2014.
