The charisma of Brendan Rodgers has transformed Leicester City into serious title contenders and set the standard high in these early weeks of the 2019-20 campaign. All the players have uplifted their game, and the Foxes are already being compared to the side that conquered the English crown back in 2016.
City have roped in many young talents from the lower leagues over the years and were reportedly (as cited by Goal.com, via Leicester Mercury) monitoring Wigan Athletic teenager Joe Gelherdt. But the 17-year-old has now committed his future signing a new long-term contract at the DW Stadium, and therefore, handing Rodgers a transfer blow ahead of the winter transfer window.
“Creating a pathway from academy to first-team is a priority of our manager and our owners and Joe is certainly a talent that has benefitted from that philosophy. Joe, his family and his representatives believe that Wigan Athletic is the best place for Joe to continue his development and play football.”
Club’s executive chairman Darren Royle shared his insight on why the 17-year-old opted to extend his stay despite interest from the Foxes, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton along with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United (as reported by the Daily Star).
Why It Is A Major Setback For Leicester City
Although they have on-fire Jamie Vardy spearheading the attack, the Englishman will be 33 within a couple of months. He would still be leading the line for a couple of seasons more but, at the same time, the Foxes needs a long-term successor. Ayoze Perez was roped in summer who, however, is more of an inverted winger these days rather than an outright ‘number 9’. A £25m move from Manchester City did not work out for Kelechi Iheanacho as the former City man has found the net only four times in the league since 2017.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has nurtured and developed young prospects all throughout his managerial regime and banked on the likes of Ben Chilwell, Hamza Choudhury and Harvey Barnes who progressed through the youth ranks. Gelherdt had all the attributes to flourish for the first-team as a couple of years under the Northern Irishman would have improved his game immensely.
The Liverpool-born England youth international is making strides with the Latics’ senior side and has already found the net against Hull City after coming on as a second-half substitute to rescue a point. It is to be seen now how Leicester react in the market to replace Vardy in the long run.
