Twelve Leicester City prospects Marti Cifuentes must evaluate for first-team decisions
There are many talented players in Leicester City’s ranks for the incoming manager to assess, and he has a reputation for believing in
young players.
During the previous season, Marti Cifuentes gave five adolescents minutes at QPR. He changed the starting lineup’s average age from
the tenth youngest to the second youngest in the division at his former club, Hammarby in Sweden.
When he joins Leicester City, he is known for having faith in young players.
City is full of gifted players, and Andy King has been scouting a lot of them while he’s been in charge.
Twelve of the 33 players that City employed against OH Leuven last weekend have never started a league game for the team.
Here is a look at their possibilities of earning a spot in Cifuentes’ team this season. Decisions must be made quickly so that City can
better understand where they need to make transfer-market additions.
Alves appears guaranteed to be in the City team for the upcoming season given that he has Championship experience.
Where Cifuentes believes he is most effective will be intriguing to observe. Alves started his career as a central attacking midfielder,
playing wide on both flanks for Cardiff. This preseason, he has made appearances for City in this position.
However, with so many choices available, he could be able to improve his performance in the number 10 slot. There is dribbling and
ball control. Making sure there is an end product to go with it is the next step.
The 16-year-old winger is dynamite and it would not be a surprise if he is in the starting line-up against Sheffield Wednesday in three
weeks’ time.
His footwork, ball-carrying, and attacking intent will cause no end of problems to Championship full-backs this season and he’s only
going to get better with more game-time. Even with the competition City have out wide, it feels like there should at least be a place for
Monga on the bench every week.
Jake Evans
He’s the youngest player to ever hit double figures in Premier League 2, and so he very clearly has a goalscoring knack. There should
be space in the squad for someone with that kind of potential.
But Cifuentes usually plays with one striker, and Evans, who doesn’t turn 17 until late August, is not ready to be the starter up front,
and maybe not the deputy there either.
However, out wide as a left-footer, he can offer City something different, especially while Abdul Fatawu is getting up to speed.
Louis Page
While he has been an attacking midfielder throughout the preseason, he has been more of a box-to-box midfielder or deep-lying
playmaker for City and England at the age-group level.
Page may have demonstrated his ability to play farther forward by scoring twice against Peterborough. Despite only turning 17 this
month, he was trusted to take set pieces, and his confidence seems to be rising as well.
However, he has had very little experience playing senior football, and it might be that Cifuentes is helping him develop in a specific
midfield position before he is given senior opportunity.
Bade Aluko
It is, admittedly, just two games, but with the way he has performed in pre-season so far, it feels like there should be a place in the
squad for Aluko.
He can play in both full-back positions and is now thriving at centre-back, while physically he looks ready, possessing strength, height
and pace. He’s shown bravery on the ball in dribbling and passing out of the back-line, and looks very promising.
With his versatility, he would be a valuable player to keep in the senior squad, although City would have to be mindful not to halt his
development by having him as back-up in every defensive role but without ever playing.
Michael Golding
He’s still very young, so there’s plenty of time for him to show the potential that saw him rated highly at Chelsea.
But his first season at City was injury hit. It feels like he needs a consistent run of games in the development squad to start making
progress and to push towards senior involvement.
Jayden Joseph
If senior full-backs leave, there is potential for him to make the cut for the squad, especially as he can play on both sides.
He’s very attacking and is always looking to bomb down the flank, hence why he’s played as a winger this pre-season too.
That tendency to push on may be really liked by Cifuentes, but the new manager may also feel the defensive nous isn’t there yet.
Sammy Braybrooke
He’s 21 now, so he shouldn’t return to the development squad. He needs senior football, either at City or on loan.
Because of his stature, there may be question marks over his potential in the senior game, but his tactical intelligence, his passing
range and energy may make up for that.
Could he provide cover for Harry Winks and Oli Skipp? Cifuentes will need to take a closer look at him.
Stevie Bausor
Last season was his first as number one for the Under-21s, and so another campaign in Premier League 2 would not feel detrimental to
his development. But he is 20, and so maybe now is the time for a loan.
A first-team spot does not seem likely as City traditionally opt for three senior goalkeepers. They’ll need at least one in the transfer
market, or two if Mads Hermansen goes.
Silko Thomas
It may come as a surprise that he appears as fit as anyone in the group considering how long he’s been recovering from a knee injury
that ended his loan at Wigan last season and was initially predicted to keep him out until early July.
Preseason has seen some promising moments up front, particularly with his goal against Peterborough and his off-the-ball running.
However, he is primarily a winger, and it appears that there is too much competition for him to be given a chance. The best option
might be another League One loan.
Tom Wilson-Brown
Since his loan up in Scotland didn’t go as planned the previous season, another one might be needed.
He does, however, have the advantage of being a left-footed centre-back, which City lacks in the senior squad. He also has a good
passing range. The number of existing center-backs who stay will probably determine his future.
Mirsad Ali
The left-back only made a fleeting appearance over the weekend, and since there are many senior players, such Aluko and Joseph,
higher up the hierarchy than him, the 19-year-old is far more likely to be in the development squad than the senior squad.
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