According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Premier League champions Manchester City are being linked with a potential double raid on high-flying Leicester City in an attempt to lure both their in-form centre-halves to the Etihad Stadium. Seasoned campaigner Jonny Evans and young superstar Caglar Soyunçu have been nothing short of superb at the start of this new campaign, and Pep Guardiola seems to have recognised that point as well.
How Have Both Teams Fared So Far This Season?
Brendan Rodgers’ first full season in charge of Leicester City couldn’t have got off to a better start. The Foxes are currently in second place, level on points with Chelsea and a point above the other team in question – Manchester City. The sheer progress that the Foxes have made from the start of last season is signified by their young stars’ work rate out on the pitch.
Manchester City, on the other hand, haven’t managed to pick up from where they left off last season. They have suffered shock defeats to Wolves and Norwich City so far this term and even went on to lose in one of the featured games of the season against Liverpool at Anfield. Fourth place, twelve gameweeks into the season, should be simply unacceptable by Pep Guardiola’s massive standards and unless they turn things around quickly, a lot could go wrong real fast.
What Attributes Have The Duo Added To Leicester City This Season?
The combination of an experienced veteran and a young and dynamic centre-half has worked wonders for Brendan Rodgers this campaign. While the former Manchester United defender reads the flow of play and positions himself perfectly to deal with dangerous situations, the Turkish international has the energy to close people down and make vital tackles in the defensive third.
The pair of them have been excellent dealing with set-pieces so far this year, and for all their efforts, boast the most reliable defensive record in the league. Having conceded just eight so far this term, they sit above the likes of City and even Liverpool for the time being. Given the form that both defenders are showing, it’s no surprise that Pep Guardiola’s attention has been piqued.
Can Brendan Rodgers Afford To Lose Either Of Them In January?
Although Caglar Soyunçu will obviously be the first-choice for any suitors, especially considering his age, losing Jonny Evans might be a more significant blow on this Leicester City team. The Englishman has been a real leader in the heart of the defence for the Foxes – something the Citizens have been missing all campaign. Despite Fernandinho’s temporary repositioning, they’ve been unable to deal with the lingering defensive lapses completely.
The Foxes will be looking to maintain this form until the end of the campaign in an attempt to make it into the UEFA Champions League spots. Although the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal might have something to say about that come the end of the year, keeping their star centre-halves at the King Power Stadium will undoubtedly be a priority for Rodgers.
