MX23RW : Friday, May 3 00:09:22| >> :120:39322:39322:

Three players Leicester City should sign

Sports Mole selects three transfers targets that could help newly-promoted Leicester City to retain their Premier League status.

Having romped their way to the Championship title last term, Leicester City's focus will now turn to survival in the top flight.

Manager Nigel Pearson has already bolstered his playing squad with the additions of four free transfers, including former England international Matt Upson. Also, Pearson has been able to convince the likes of captain Wes Morgan and striker David Nugent to extend their contracts at the King Power Stadium.

Nevertheless, there is still work to be done if The Foxes are to retain their Premier League status. Here, Sports Mole has picked out three players that we feel would strengthen their chances of doing that.


Sebastien Bassong, Norwich City

Norwich's Sebastien Bassong in action against Arsenal on October 19, 2013© Getty Images

Only Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion conceded less goals last season than Leicester, who saw their net breached 43 times from their 46 encounters. Obviously, though, the Premier League is a huge step up, with newly-promoted sides often finding clean sheets hard to come by.

Pearson has moved to strengthen his defensive options by recruiting free agent Upson, but while the 35-year-old will add plenty of experience, there is a case for suggesting that his better years are behind him. The former England international may still be an imposing figure in the air, but on the floor, his lack of pace can tend to be exposed.

There is no such problem for Bassong, who was one of the division's speediest and most athletic defenders with Norwich last year. Indeed, the injuries that he suffered were seen as one of the reasons that the Canaries suffered relegation. It's believed that he does not share the best of working relationships with new manager Neil Adams, so he could be available at a knockdown price.


Kris Commons, Celtic

Celtic midfielder Kris Commons celebrates after a goal against Shakhtar Karagandy on August 28, 2013© Getty Images

Where the Premier League is concerned, midfielders that score goals are an invaluable commodity. Anthony Knockaert, Danny Drinkwater, Andy King and Riyad Mahrez all contributed in the Championship, but none were what you would define as prolific in front of goal.

Clinical, though, was Commons's middle name up in Scotland. In all competitions, the 30-year-old found the back of the net for Celtic on 32 occasions from his 48 outings. It was a return that saw him win the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year awards.

Granted, the Scottish Premiership overall is a lower standard of football than the second tier of English football, but those figures should not be ignored. What's more, the attacking midfielder, who is reliable from the penalty spot, has entered the final year of his contract at Celtic Park, which could mean, like Bassong, that he is purchasable for below his market valuation.


Troy Deeney, Watford

Troy Deeney of Watford celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Blackburn Rovers at Vicarage Road on March 25, 2014© Getty Images

Scoring goals in the Championship has never been a problem for Nugent. He was Leicester's leading scorer during their promotion campaign with 22 goals to his name.

Yet, the one-capped England international has never set the world alight when given the opportunity to prove his worth in the Premier League. From his three full seasons in the top flight, the 29-year-old's best return came with Burnley in 2009-10, when he scored six goals. As for Jamie Vardy and Chris Wood, they are yet to experience one of the world's best leagues.

To be fair, neither has Deeney. Yet, he possesses the pace, power and speed of movement to suggest that he would be able to make an impact. If reports are to be believed, Pearson is keen on Brighton's Leonardo Ulloa, but with rumours of a fee in the region of £7m, Watford's Deeney, who scored 25 goals last season, could be a cheaper alternative.


ID:164864: cacheID:164864:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7441:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Alex Pearce of Reading celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Leicester City at the Madejski Stadium on April 14, 2014
Read Next:
Reading back into playoff positions
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
12pm
Fritz
Rublev
7pm
Auger-Aliassime
Lehecka
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester453141089395097
2Ipswich TownIpswich452712690573393
3Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4517131569571264
10Preston North EndPreston45189185664-863
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!