How Would Leicester Lineup Defensively With Harry Maguire In The Side
The fairytale by the old Italian did not last long at the King Power as Leicester City needed to get rid of Claudio Ranieri, just to stay in the Premier League for another season. Craig Shakespeare has done a decent job since taking over the role of the senior manager and is now already looking to improve the squad for next season.
Leicester now have a better pull in the transfer market than they ever did and have already announced their first signing. Hull City defender Harry Maguire has completed a £17m move to the King Power and is expected to play a huge role in the backline for Leicester City next season.
Wes Morgan and Robert Huth were impeccable in the title-winning campaign but they failed to find any consistency and that, along with injuries saw the manager use Yohan Benalouane and Christian Fuchs as the centre-back pairing for the last couple of games of the season.
So it does not come as a surprise that a defender is the first player the club have invested on this summer. At £17m, Maguire could be deemed a tad expensive, coming out of a relegated club. But the Foxes have already agreed to pay his asking price, and that tells us a bit about how Shakespeare could set up his backline next season.
Christian Fuchs was a revelation playing as a centre-back but he is more useful when playing as a full-back and he should be pushed into his natural role as the first choice left-back for the next season.
Danny Simpson has been a constant figure for the club over the last couple of contrasting years and is yet again expected to start at right-back. The 30-year old Benalouane, The 33-year old Wes Morgan, and the 32-year old Robert Huth are all at the wrong ends of their career and Maguire is an upgrade and a long-term replacement for any of those names.
Though 33 now, Morgan is still one of the best players in this position in the league and might start alongside Harry Maguire. Shakespeare might stick with Morgan, using an all English partnership at the back and push the 32-year old Huth to the bench.
Benalouane will act as a backup and with just three competitions to juggle, this should be enough at the back for Leicester City next season.
Here is how Leicester could lineup next season:
