Leicester City created an unprecedented legend by winning the Premier League against all odds last season. But now their fans have a lot to worry about – the team that was so effective at both ends now risk being torn apart by the big clubs. One by one, their super stars are exiting the midland town.
N’Golo Kanté, the defensive midfielder who was one of their most crucial players last season, moved to Chelsea last week in a £29 million deal. Kanté later stated that it was their new manager, Antonio Conte, who convinced him to join the Blues. But the truth is that the 25-year-old is the perfect age to move to a big club. Kanté’s idol Claude Makélélé – the former Chelsea midfielder – also said publicly that Kanté should follow in his footsteps.
A couple of days after Kanté’s deal, more bad news leaked from Leicester City’s Austria training camp. Riyad Mahrez, the PFA player of the year last season, also publicly expressed his desire to join a “big European club.” Barcelona is the club that was linked to him throughout his fantastic season, but for now the Catalans haven’t made a move. Last May, Mahrez’s agent told the media that the player was a 50/50 chance to stay at Leicester. But his case is more or less like Kanté – he is the right age and coming off a fantastic season he may never recreate.
Mahrez won’t go cheap. It is reported that Leicester City would ask for more than £45 million to let him go. Arsenal and Chelsea are both interested in the winger, although it is possible that Mahrez is eagerly waiting for Barca’s call.
This has all started a dangerous pattern. Danny Drinkwater is the latest to have revealed his desire to move away. The midfielder linked so well last year that his absence from the English squad for Euro 2016 left fans puzzled. But although Drinkwater only has two years left on his contract, City hasn’t started the process of contract renewal with him. Unlike Kanté and Mahrez, who turned down lucratively improved contracts this summer, Drinkwater feels unappreciated.
Then we have Jamie Vardy. The striker has already made up his mind to stay put but after witnessing so many key players running away, could he change his mind? City won’t go from hero to zero overnight, that’s for sure, but they will certainly struggle to get anywhere near the heights of last season without their key stars.
