Leicester City has undoubtedly made a wise choice in signing Harry Winks, as the England international has shown exceptional talent and stands out among most Championship players. However, with Winks playing more minutes than any other player on the team, it’s only a matter of time before he needs a break or possibly suffers an injury. This raises the question of who will step in to replace him in such circumstances. This topic was discussed in our recent fan Q+A session.
In addition, the future of Jannik Vestergaard and six other players whose contracts expire next summer was also on the agenda. We explored whether Leicester City would face challenges and how many points they could potentially earn. Furthermore, we examined the positions that would require strengthening if the team gets promoted. Our answers to these topics can be found below.
Q: Will Jannik Vestergaard consider re-signing with Leicester City if they get promoted?
A: This is a tricky question. At the moment, it seems unlikely that Vestergaard would stay with the team if they are promoted. He expressed his desire to leave during the summer transfer window, even before the season began. Despite having a good chance of gaining game-time due to Coady’s injury and his participation in pre-season matches, Vestergaard still aimed to join a team in one of Europe’s top-five leagues. Although there was interest, it doesn’t appear that any concrete offers materialized.
However, if Vestergaard’s ambition is to play in a top division and Leicester City gets promoted, there is a possibility he might reconsider. It’s important to consider how the squad dynamics might change if the team moves up. They won’t have as much possession, which means they will need to defend more frequently. In this scenario, Vestergaard’s lack of pace could become a concern. The decision of whether or not to start him if they get promoted is a question that will be addressed in the coming months.
Q: In the event that Harry Winks gets injured or suspended, who would be the best replacement for him? I heard Braybrooke is a similar player to Winks. Is he good enough for the first team, like McAteer?
A: If Winks is suspended, and he is just one yellow card away from being so, Choudhury would step into his position. However, Choudhury is also the primary substitute for Ricardo in the full-back-turned-midfielder role, as well as Justin in the left-back-turned-centre-back role. Therefore, Choudhury might be required in other positions. In that case, it is likely that Ndidi would drop back to fill in for Winks. This was mentioned by Maresca when discussing potential replacements for Winks.
Stylistically, Braybrooke would be the best option to replace Winks. Despite being a teenager with little experience, he possesses exceptional game intelligence. He also has the passing range and ball-carrying skills that would make him excel in that role. Initially, I had doubts about Braybrooke’s ability to step up to the Championship level without having been loaned out elsewhere. However, seeing how well McAteer has adjusted, I am confident that Braybrooke could do the same. He was once considered one of the top prospects from the academy, alongside Alves and Nelson. If McAteer can make the leap, Braybrooke should be capable of it as well. In fact, if he hadn’t been injured, I believe we would have already seen him in a few games this season.
The main issue currently is Braybrooke’s fitness. He is expected to be available for Under-21s games in November. If he can play consistently for a couple of months, he should either be ready for the first team or a loan spell by January. My suggestion would be to keep him around and provide him with playing time under Maresca.
Q: What are your thoughts on the players whose contracts expire? Who should be renewed, and who should be let go?
A: It is still early to make concrete decisions, but at this point, I believe it would be beneficial for Leicester City to try and keep Ndidi and Iheanacho if the team gets promoted. Thus far, they have proved to be valuable members of Maresca’s squad, and I anticipate they will continue to contribute in the Premier League.
Initially, Praet performed well in the first few games of the season, and he may excel once he recovers from injury. However, I do not think he will be interested in signing a new contract, regardless of the circumstances. It appears that his decision has already been made. Vestergaard might find himself in a similar situation, and his departure could be out of Leicester City’s control. Moreover, if Coady surpasses Vestergaard in the pecking order as planned, City may not need him in the Premier League. It is also likely that the team would seek faster defenders if they get promoted.
This leaves us with Albrighton and Vardy. I believe it is probably the end for Albrighton, regardless of how this season unfolds. As for Vardy, if Leicester City moves up, I hope he receives another one-year contract. He struggled for the most part last season in the Premier League, but his recent form under Maresca suggests he may still be capable of performing at the highest level. Additionally, despite his age, it would feel wrong not to extend his contract, considering his contributions to the team.
