Leicester City are closing in on their first summer signing as pre-season draws near.
The majority of Foxes stars are still enjoying their holidays, while others are still yet to jet off with a City contingent involved in this summer's Under-21 European Championships.
Meanwhile, City staff are working away to secure new signings and two possible additions have already been identified.
The Foxes are hoping to sign last season's loan star Youri Tielemans this summer, as well as Luton Town youngster James Justin, with the latter expected to complete his move at any moment.
We brought you the latest on both of those deals, as well as keeping you up to date with Manchester United and Manchester City's pursuit of Harry Maguire.
If that's not enough, we also brought you the latest news from around the Premier League to make sure you're up to date with all the latest.
To stay up to date with all the action you can recap the blog below, or you can get in touch with us to have your say on our Facebook and Twitter channels or, alternatively, you can leave us a comment in the section below.
Key Events
Full-time!
That’s your lot from us on today’s LIVE Leicester City blog.
We will be back from, 7am tomorrow morning for much more transfer chat.
For now, though, here are today’s top three stories...
- Manchester United identify cheaper alternative to Maguire
- Why City’s signing of James Justin is treading a familiar path
- Matt Elliott’s thoughts on Harry Maguire saga
Neville explains why Utd will find it 'difficult' to sign Maguire
Manchester United icon Gary Neville believes his former club will find it difficult to sign Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire this window.
United made an approach for Maguire last summer and are thought to have retained an interest in the England international, who is also attracting links to Manchester City.
Leicester are not looking to sell Maguire but may consider negotiations if the 26-year-old expresses a desire to leave and if an offer of more than £75m is made.
But a deal is far from simple, believes former England right-back Neville, who has identified three reasons why United are struggling in the transfer market this summer.
Neville explained that his old club have rivals for all of their targets, have to cope with inflated price-tags, and be patient while potential signings consider their best option, which may not be United given they cannot offer Champions League football.
The latest Premier League transfer rumours
The latest round-up of transfer rumours from around Leicester’s rivals in the top flight...
More on Wilf's AFCON success
This afternoon’s win means the Super Eagles have advanced to the knockout stage.
More on that HERE.
When Premier League players reach their peak
Interesting research has revealed when exactly top flight footballers reach their peak - and it’s good news for Leicester.
More HERE.
All over in Ndidi's latest AFCON game
He played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Guinea.
The squad numbers available to James Justin
With the right-back set to make his move to the King Power Stadium, we’ve compiled a list of the numbers on offer to him...
More HERE.
Next Newcastle manager odds feature four ex-Foxes
There’s plenty of City interest in the bookies’ list of who they reckon will be the next Newcastle United gaffer.
Rafa Benitez will leave the club on Sunday when his contract expires, it was confirmed on Monday.
More HERE.
Elsewhere...
Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth up to £50million.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are attempting to kick-start their summer rebuild by signing the talented 21-year-old right-back, having so far only brought in Daniel James from Swansea.
It is understood significant progress was made during talks between United and Palace on Tuesday, with an initial fee of £45million agreed along with a further £5million in add-ons.
A medical will be sorted sooner rather than later to complete the signing of Wan-Bissaka, who is seen behind the scenes at Old Trafford as someone that will fit in Solskjaer’s style and get fans on their feet - even as a right-back.
A young, exciting talent, United have worked solidly to reach an agreement with Palace and are now looking to make more additions that will complement the current squad.
Wan-Bissaka’s return from the Under-21 European Championship should smooth the final stages of the deal, although his role in England’s group-stage exit is not something he will want reminding of.
The right-back endured a difficult time in Italy, where Aidy Boothroyd overlooked him for the Young Lions’ last two group matches after his late own goal in the opener against France led to a 2-1 loss.
The under-21s boss believes Wan-Bissaka’s error in that match may have been down to the ongoing speculation about his club future.
Boothroyd said:
For a young player who all he knows is Crystal Palace academy and Crystal Palace it would be daft not to say that in some way he must think about it. I would not be truthful if I told you anything other than that. What I will say is because he doesn’t say too much you don’t get to find out too much. Aaron keeps things to himself. He is a very private guy. When that speculation is flying around it is bound to turn your head. But having said all of that had he not scored the own goal we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
It is a big fee for a player yet to make his senior international debut and only made his first appearance for Palace 16 months ago.
Wan-Bissaka has made 46 club appearances in all competitions for the south London club, where he won the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards.
The 21-year-old also collected the PFA Community Champion Award at the end-of-season awards in May, when he committed his immediate future to Palace.
Wan-Bissaka said:
The situation just shows that my performances don’t go unnoticed. But I am with Crystal Palace at the moment. That is where my contract is and that is where I will be next season. I have got three years left on my contract. It says I am going to be there, so that is all I can focus on now.
Why Justin signing is treading familiar path
Our Foxes editor Rob Tanner runs the rule over the impending signing of James Justin.
Read his thoughts HERE.
Ndidi starts for Nigeria
Wilfred Ndidi starts for the Nigerians in their second African Cup of Nations game this afternoon.
They kick-off against Guinea in around 15 minutes’ time, with ex-Fox Ahmed Musa starting, too.
Around the top flight
Brighton have completed the signing of winger Leandro Trossard from Belgian champions Genk for an undisclosed fee.
Trossard has agreed a four-year contract at the Amex Stadium.
The 24-year-old captained Genk to the Belgian title last season, scoring 22 times and contributing 11 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions.
Albion boss Graham Potter said:
We are delighted to welcome Leandro to the club and excited about the impact he can have for us. He’s an attack-minded player who had a very impressive season last year in helping Genk win the league title. He was influential in the side’s success last term and scored a lot of goals, as well as creating chances for others. At 24 he also brings good experience, having captained the side and also featured many times in the Europa League.
Trossard had been linked with Albion’s Premier League rivals Arsenal and Aston Villa.
He came through Genk’s youth system and became a first-team regular in 2016 following loan spells with Lommel, Westerlo and OH Leuven.
The former Belgium Under-21 international has already been included in Roberto Martinez’s senior international squad but is yet to make his debut.
He gained Europa League experience during his time in Belgium, including helping Genk reach the quarter-finals of the competition in 2017.
Trossard becomes the Seagulls’ second summer signing under new boss Potter following last week’s arrival of centre-back Matt Clarke from Portsmouth.
The move to Sussex completes a whirlwind few days for Trossard after he married fiancee Laura Hilven in Belgium on Saturday.
Justin's Luton goals
James Justin, expected to complete his move to Leicester before next week, scored three goals for Luton last season as they stormed to the League One title.
You can watch them in the videos below, keeping an eye out for no.2.
The second video, Luton’s 5-1 win over Plymouth, is particularly worth a watch as Justin sets up the first, scores the third and then wins a penalty for the fourth.
Luton 3-2 Scunthorpe
Luton 5-1 Plymouth
Luton 4-0 Bradford
Here are some of City's cult heroes
This summer we’ve been getting in touch with some of City’s cult heroes to discuss their memories of the club.
Here’s a few of the stories we’ve put together so far.
Losing Maguire would be a blow, but not the end of the world
Losing Harry Maguire this summer would be a blow for Leicester City, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
That is the opinion of former City captain and stalwart defender Matt Elliott as speculation continues that Maguire will be targeted by Manchester City and Manchester United this summer.
Having watched his progress over the past two years ever since his £17 million move from Hull City to the King Power Stadium, Elliott believes Maguire has flourished into a top centre half to such an extent it should be no surprise that other clubs want to sign him.
Elliott admits if City do accept a bid for him it would leave a hole in City’s defence, but in Filip Benkovic, he believes City may be able to fill the void to some extent.
Which has been City's best summer of transfers?
It’s time for a lunchtime poll and given we’re in the midst of the transfer window, we thought we’d work out, with your help, which was City’s most fruitful summer of deals.
Here’s a look at the signings from the five summers City have been back in the Premier League.
- 2014 - Marc Albrighton, Matt Upson, Ben Hamer, Leo Ulloa, Esteban Cambiasso, Danny Simpson, Tom Lawrence, Nick Powell
- 2015 - Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth, Shinji Okazaki, N’Golo Kante, Yohan Benalouane, Gokhan Inler, Nathan Dyer
- 2016 - Ron-Robert Zieler, Luis Hernandez, Papy Mendy, Ahmed Musa, Bartosz Kapustka, Islam Slimani
- 2017 - Harry Maguire, Vicente Iborra, Eldin Jakupovic, Kelechi Iheanacho, Adrien Silva, Aleksandar Dragovic
- 2018 - Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira, Danny Ward, Rachid Ghezzal, Filip Benkovic, Caglar Soyuncu
Which was the best? Vote in the poll below.
Leicester City players prepare for start of pre-season
Leicester City players are building their fitness ahead of the start of pre-season next week.
Squad members who did not feature on the international stage will return to the club’s Belvoir Drive training ground next Monday, July 1, and will be in decent shape judging by social media.
Gone are the days when players return packing an extra few pounds with the City squad given individual plans for their summer breaks.
Jamie Vardy, Adrien Silva and Callum Elder are among those to provide photographic proof they are following their programmes.
'Vital goals at vital times' - How Russell became a fan favourite
He may have only made 50 appearances for Leicester City, but the impact Kevin ‘Rooster’ Russell made at the club in the early 1990s is still remembered today by fans who regard the bald striker as a true cult hero.
His never-say-die attitude and tendency to score crucial goals at vital times to first save City from relegation to the third tier and then to get them into the Division Two play-offs the following season have left an indelible mark.
Injuries hampered his start to life at the club following his £175,000 move to Filbert Street from Wrexham in June 1989, and after recovering from a hernia he had to go out on loan at Peterborough, where he suffered a stress fracture of his leg.
When he returned, Gordon Lee was the new boss and his City career finally got up and running.
Premier League rumours
The transfer window merry-go-round is now beginning to speed up as young stars return from their international commitments and players’ holidays near an end.
Clubs up and down the Premier League are battling for signatures, looking to get deals over the line as they gear up for pre-season.
And as the top-flight clubs go about their summer business, transfer rumours continue to pour in.
From Anfield to the AMEX, here’s the latest round-up with all the rumours.
What Luton fans have said about Justin
Leicester City are signing an “absolute gem” in Luton full-back James Justin.
City have reached an agreement with the Hatters for Justin and Brendan Rodgers could have his new man in place before the start of pre-season next Monday.
The versatile 21-year-old can play right-back and left-back and so will arrive as an understudy to both Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell.
Luton fans have been reacting to the news of Justin’s imminent departure, lauding the full-back that helped them power to the League One title last term.
Man Utd 'hold talks' with cheaper alternative to Maguire
Manchester United appear to have identified an alternative centre-back to Harry Maguire.
The Red Devils are keen to sign the Leicester City defender, with local rivals and Premier League champions Manchester City also in the hunt for his signature.
Leicestershire Live understands that, as of Tuesday (June 26), both United and the Citizens are yet to approach City regarding Maguire, despite numerous media reports.
City are expecting the speculation to continue throughout the summer, with reports now that City’s valuation, which will be in excess of the £75m world record fee for a defender, is deterring offers.
Pep Guardiola’s side are looking for a replacement for Vincent Kompany, while United are looking to overhaul a squad that failed to qualify for the Champions League last season.
But reports are saying that United are one of a number of clubs to have held discussions with German club Stuttgart for Ozan Kabak, who would be a much cheaper alternative to Maguire.
The truth about the 'tug-of-war' for City's Harry Maguire
It may be billed as a transfer tug-of-war between Manchester United and Manchester City for Leicester City defender Harry Maguire, but so far neither of the Premier League giants have taken the strain.
LeicestershireLive understands that both United and the Citizens are yet to approach City regarding their England central defender, despite numerous media reports.
It has been billed as potentially one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer but so far it has been a phoney war between the two clubs, although City are not resting on their laurels that a bid may come.
City set to complete James Justin signing
Leicester City are close to completing their first signing of the summer with Luton Town defender James Justin set to secure a move to the King Power Stadium.
City have reached an agreement with the Hatters for the 21-year-old and the deal could be done in time for Justin to join up with the squad for the start of pre-season training next week.
City have been looking for a young, up-and-coming right-back to push player of the year Ricardo Pereira for his place in Brendan Rodgers’ side and have been in talks with Luton for several weeks.
The fee is undisclosed but LeicestershireLive understand it is considerably less than the £12 million reported a few weeks ago, possibly less than half that figure, although there will be a number of add-ons to the deal.
