Leicester City has had a poor start to their season where they are defending their title they won last year. After losing the first match at home to newly promoted side Hull City and playing out a goalless draw against Arsenal in their second game (also at home), the team has gathered 1 point from a possible 6. Realistically speaking, nobody expects the Foxes to challenge for the title or retain it this time around. There will be a lot more pressure and the team also has to tackle their European commitments for the first time in their history which right away calls for a greater squad depth and quality.
A top 10 finish would be a fantastic achievement, Claudio Ranieri has already made it clear that this time around he aims in building the squad and get the team and club settled in the Premier League.
Leicester have had a busy summer transfer window so far, bringing in five new faces into the squad while a handful has left the club with the most notable of those being N’Golo Kanté and Andrej Kramaric. Before his own departure, Steve Walsh made it clear that Leicester do need to strengthen significantly with the team being in the Champions League now. After the first two games, there are still some positions which do need strengthening. Let’s look at some of those areas.
Full-back
Leicester need additions in the fullback region to compete in the Champions league and in the Premier League. Danny Simpson has done well in the right back while Christian Fuchs was exceptional last year. A good right back seems essential for the team while there’s no decent cover for Fuchs in the left-back position.
Left Winger
Riyad Mahrez has continued to impress this season with his trickeries but the other side of the flank looks really weak for the champions. Mark Albrighton is decent but there’s a need of a player who would provide a lot more on that flank. Youngster Demarai Gray is too immature tactically despite having pace and tends to overdo things almost always letting the team down with his decision making. A good player of the left wing thus seems very essential.
Midfield
Nampalys Mendy is a very good addition to the team to replace the departed N’Golo Kanté but there is still a lot of pressure on Danny Drinkwater to provide the support needed in the attack as well as shielding the defence with his box to box role and Shinji Okazaki to provide the penetration and third man runs in the attacking regions. There are no backups for those two players and with a lot more games to be played by the team this term, the midfield looks real short at the moment, which needs reinforcements.
