Who Should Leicester City Target At Right Wing?

Yes, this again.

Look, I don’t like it any more than you do, but as you are almost certainly aware, right-wing remains a problem position for the Foxes. It turns out that Riyad Mahrez was a generational talent and finding another player of his ilk is really, really hard unless you have nigh-infinite money to spend. Then it’s only “really hard.”

So, once again, let’s run the rule over wingers we’ve either been linked with or who might be available for a reasonable price. I’ve tried to stick to players who are 27 years old or younger, are left-footed, and play for teams that are not currently in contention for the Champions League. As per usual, I have not adhered to these rules especially strictly. Let’s do this!

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Jeremie Boga

Club: Atalanta
Age: 25
Contract Expires: 2026

Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

This is the name that you see touted for a move to the King Power in almost all publications. Boga is only 25, but he’s been playing top-flight football since 2015 with over 200 matches under his belt. During that time, he’s scored 24 goals, almost half of those coming in the 2019/20 season as Sassuolo. He’s also tallied 11 assists over that span.

Herein lies the problem: For an exciting attacking player, he doesn’t actually participate in the activity of goal-scoring very often. He’s excellent at moving the ball forward with the ball at his feet or a well-placed pass, but he’s struggled in the final third and been supplanted by Ademola Lookman at Atalanta.

He’s also right-footed, which is not an ideal fit for Leicester City as Rodgers prefers to play inverted wingers. He does have his strengths and his ability to keep the ball will appeal to the gaffer, but you can’t shake the feeling that he’d be perceived as the consolation prize in the Lookman sweepstakes.

Ismaila Sarr

Club: Watford
Age: 24
Contract Expires: 2024

Photo by Andy Rain/Pool via Getty Images

Fousseni Diabate 2.0: If you know, you know. I’m sorely tempted to leave it at that.

Another right-footed winger whose name is linked to Leicester every window. Sarr certainly looks a proper footballer, with both strength and pace, but he’s nowhere near the finished product. WhoScored.com lists his weakness as “crossing,” “holding on to the ball,” “defensive contribution,” and “passing.” There are no significant strengths.

While it’s fun to imagine the player he might become, he isn’t that player right now. Will he ever be? I’m not sure I’d want to bet a lot to find out.

Marcus Edwards

Club: Sporting CP
Age: 24
Contract Expires: 2026

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

I’ve been a Marcus Edwards Stan for some time as he seems to tick a lot of the boxes for City. He’s a left-footed right-winger, he’s English, he’s young, and he doesn’t play for a team that is getting European football every year. The fact that he’s still plying his trade in Portugal baffles me and I do not expect that to remain the case much longer.

Edwards is very much a “get the ball and start moving forward at full speed” sort of player. He’s an excellent dribbler who excels at progressive passing and through balls. He scores, too, and has been deployed at a #9 more this year than in the past. He has no interest whatsoever in defensive duties, which is the only mark against him (albeit a pretty important one). You can look at his skillset and dream of Riyad Mahrez, but he doesn’t have to be that good to make the Foxes a much better side.

Sebastian Szymanski

Club: Feyenoord
Age: 23
Contract Expires: 2023 (On loan from Dynamo Moscow with an option to buy)

Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Szymaski is more of a utility midfielder than most of the others on this list, playing in the centre and either wing, but he’s left-footed, he’s been successful on the right, and he does a lot of very good things when he’s on the pitch. He has 6 goals and 3 assists in only 10 starts for De Trots van Zuid, which is pretty, um, goed.

Aside from the goal involvements, the Poland midfielder is a strong defender who relishes tackling in the open field. He’s the kind of player that would endear himself to both the management and the fans. The biggest concern is that he’s only spent half a season in a top league (assuming you count the Eredivisie) and he didn’t exactly set the Russian leagues on fire. There’s more risk here than with most European players, but there’s also an opportunity to swoop before he establishes himself.

Noni Madueke

Club: PSV Eindhoven
Age: 25
Contract Expires: 2026

Photo by Patrick Goosen/BSR Agency/Getty Images

Here’s another familiar name we bring up every transfer window. Chukwunonso Madueke is a blisteringly fast left-footed winger who players with mental and physical maturity beyond his 20 years. He’s also English, which both adds to the appeal (we have to have a certain number of “homegrown” players) and gives one pause (if he’s any good, Chelsea will buy him in a year).

Madueke suffered an ankle injury in pre-season this year and only managed 3 substitute appearances before the World Cup break. He should be healthy, and if he’s healthy, he’s good. He’s both a scorer and a creator who will chip in on defence as well.

Tiago Gouveia

Club: Estoril
Age: 21
Contract Expires: 2023 (on loan from Benfica)

Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

Gouveia is very much “one for the future.” His game is not nearly as developed as Madueke’s in spite of being a year older. He’s owned by Benfica and currently playing on loan at Estoril, so he may be less available than some of the others on this list.

The Portugal U21 international is much more advanced as a creator than as a goal scorer. He’s mastered the art of finding runners, but he’s a little raw when it comes to patient passing and finishing. You can see it coming, though. His feel for the game is excellent and he’s going to be good, it just may take some time.

Romain Del Castillo

Club: Brest
Age: 26
Contract Expires: 2024

Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images

Del Castillo is one of the safer players on this list. At 26, he’s not got the growth in front of him that some of the other players do. But, his game is reasonably well-rounded and he’s spent a good deal of time in Ligue Un, so the odds of his being a complete bust are lower than for, say, Gouveia.

The Frenchman is an excellent distributor of the ball and creates goal-scoring opportunities at a very high rate. He hasn’t been much of a scorer in the past, but he’s put 4 in the back of the net so far this year, so take that for what it’s worth. He’s also a physical defender who relishes a challenge, so he would allow the fullback a little more liberty to get forward. He’s not the most exciting player on the list, but he’s potentially a nice fit.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Club: RB Leipzig
Age: 22
Contract Expires: 2026 - R

Photo by Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images

OK, since we just labelled Del Castillo “not the most exciting player on the list,” let’s talk about “the most exciting player on this list.” Szoboszlai is right-footed, which isn’t ideal, but that’s the only weakness I can see. His list of strengths on WhoScored is a litany of everything you’d want in a winger. You add that to the fact that he’s doing this as a 22-year-old in the Bundesliga, and you’ve got an absolutely top-class target.

Maybe too “top-class” if I’m being honest. It turns out that other people have heard of the Hungarian and we’re not going to find a bargain here. Transfermarkt lists his value at €35.00m, and they are almost always too cautious in their estimations. I have no clue if we could tempt a player of this calibre, but I would love to see the Hungarian at the King Power.

Brais Méndez

Club: Real Sociedad
Age: 25
Contract Expires: 2028

Photo by Ion Alcoba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Mendez is a newly-minted Spain international who got three substitute appearances during the World Cup qualifiers, but wasn’t selected for the squad that went to Qatar. The left-footer is very much a prototypical inverted left winger, with no outstanding strengths or weaknesses when compared to other players at his position. That sounds more damning than it is. The player who is statistically the most similar to Mendez, as per FBRef.com, is Jude Bellingham.

Spoiler alert: He’s not Jude Bellingham. But, he’s a player with a broad base of skills who can contribute in almost every phase of the game. He’s not especially good in the air, but he’s solid when it comes to dribbling, passing, creating goal-scoring opportunities, and finishing them. In the American sports vernacular, he’s not a “GUY,” but he’s a “guy.” Not a star, but right-wing would cease to be a problem for as long as we could hold on to him.

Timothy Weah

Club: Lille
Age: 22
Contract Expires: 2024

Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Until Thiago Messi signs his first contract, there’s no better pedigree in football. Weah is a very direct wide man who gets forward at great pace if not always with great success. He’s been far more successful on the international stage than at the club level, but he’s shown signs of progress at Lille and, at 22, there’s plenty of time for him to improve.

There’s been a lack of consistency and a propensity to run into disciplinary issues, but the latter are more a case of aggression and desire than petulance and should improve with time. Honestly, one thing that Leicester could really use is some players who are willing to get a little more physically involved. The Foxes have a reputation for being very “soft” and Weah would go a long weah..er, way towards addressing that.

Jeremy Doku

Club: Rennes
Age: 20
Contract Expires: 2025

Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

I flat-out love Doku. Getting to see him play against the Foxes may be impacting my opinion, but I just love everything he brings to the table. He’s incredibly fast, and very skillful, and even though he’s right-footed, he can score cutting in from the right. Oh, and he’s only 20 and he’s already a dominant force.

The biggest issues with getting Doku, aside from getting him to swap Brittany for the East Midlands, are “price” and “willingness to sell.” Rennes are currently 3rd on the Ligue Un table and might not be in a mood to sell. On the other hand, he’s behind Benjamin Bourigeaud on their depth chart, so it’s worth a look, right?

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Club: Leicester City
Age: 24
Contract Expires: Never

Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Left-footed? Check!
Attacking midfielder? Check!
Fan-favourite? Check!

I know this is a little outside-the-box and I’m certain there’s a good reason why we haven’t tried it, but...doesn’t Dewbury-Hall have almost all of the traits you’d want in an attacking right-winger? He’s not very pacy, but he compensates for that with a tremendous work-rate. He’s got a wicked shot with his left foot and it’s hard not to imagine him drifting inside and lashing it into the corner of the net.

That said, I’m sure there’s a reason that Rodgers prefers to deploy him in the centre and play Madders wide, but I’m not entirely clear as to what that reason might be. James Maddison is, by some margin, the best player we have and continuing to play him out of position is sub-optimal. Could KDH play on the right? I say “yes!” (as I acknowledge that I’m not a professional scout and there are no consequences for me if I’m wrong).

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Let’s be honest here: None of the guys I’m listing who haven’t been linked to Leicester are likely to be joining the squad. This is an exercise in idle speculation, as is everyone else’s list. But, it’s a lot of fun and maybe one of these days we’ll uncover a diamond.

That’s my bit. What do you think? Who would you bring in if you were running the club?