TOM COLLOMOSSE: Leicester’s FA Cup exit exposes the scale of the rebuild facing Brendan Rodgers this summer… James Maddison and Harvey Barnes may have to be sold and, with eight players out of contract, the turnover will be huge
- James Maddison and Harvey Barnes may be sold to help fund a summer rebuild
- Eight players are out of contract and are not good enough to remain in the squad
- Leicester’s squad requires a huge overhaul this summer – provided they stay up
There is nothing like the sound of booing to focus directors’ minds and the reaction of their fans told the Leicester board that a huge rebuilding job lies ahead this summer.
Only 10 places separate Leicester and Blackburn, chasing promotion from the Championship, but the Foxes’ second string would do well to finish mid-table in the second tier. Very few would command a spot in an enterprising Rovers side, whose 2-1 win at King Power Stadium on Tuesday booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in eight years.
While boss Brendan Rodgers is far from blameless in this season’s struggles, he has been calling for the squad to be refreshed ever since Leicester were beaten by Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in January 2022. Under new recruitment chief Martyn Glover, it has to happen now.
‘We’ve got a really important run of games ahead and if we can have that determination and fight to match some of the quality we have, we will win the games we need to, but it’s going to be a fight, that’s for sure,’ admitted Rodgers. His team have a huge game at fellow strugglers Southampton on Saturday, which feels like the sort of fixture that could define their season.
‘We have to win as many games as we possibly can. We’re in a position where we’re by no means safe. We have to make sure we get enough points to stay up here. The reality is we haven’t been at the level this season.’
Leicester’s lack of strength in depth was exposed in their 2-1 loss to Blackburn in the FA Cup
Brendan Rodgers has been calling for the Leicester squad to be refreshed for over a year
Harvey Barnes is among Leicester’s key assets but could be sold to help fund a squad rebuild
If Leicester stay up – and as they are only three points above the relegation zone, that’s far…